Budget, Cleco franchise on tap for council

Budgets, proposed and current, are among the items on the Eunice city council’s agenda at its 6:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday.
Aldermen will be asked to amend the current budget and approve the next fiscal year budget, which starts in July.
Mayor Rusty Moody set the budget tone when responding to a request from Police Chief Randy Fontenot for new vehicles.
“We are flat lined and I’m really cautious about spending extra money at this time,” Moody said at Thursday’s agenda-setting meeting.
The council meeting is held in the council chambers on the second floor of the municipal complex, 300 S. 2nd St.
Public hearings on the budgets and a Cleco franchise renewal are to begin at 6:15 p.m.
A 33-year Cleco contract is on the agenda. Willie Bergeron, of Cleco, said there are no rate increases or changes in the contract with the city.
The mayor is to ask the council to raise natural gas rates. The increase would raise the minimum rate from about $7 to $10 per MCF (one thousand cubic feet).
Jack Burson, alderman at-large, speaking about the police car request, said, “We had estimated $2.7 million sales revenue. We actually got 2.45 .. that means we have to be very cautious in incurring new expenses.”
Burson said cities such as Crowley and Jennings set a property millage over 30 mills while Eunice is collecting 11.6 mills
“It is the income side that needs work,” Burson said. “If we got additional millage say like Crowley did where they bonded all of their street improvements for 15 years then you could divert the sales money.”
The budget has total revenues of $7,164,000 and total expenses of $7,095,000, Burson said. “That leaves you with a plus of $68,440, which is not much for anything.”
Other agenda items include resolutions to enter into electric service and street lighting agreements, authorize a property swap with Bayou State Investment and a property sale to DOTD for the La. 91 drainage canal bridge.