Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel and his administration are putting the final touches on the budget for fiscal year 2012-2013. Durel says the administration is making tweaks to the budget draft, but the final document will be ready to print tomorrow. "This is probably the least run-of-the-mill budget I've had to deal with since I've been in office," Durel said. Despite this, however, he could not divulge what is in the budget until Thursday. "I've learned in the political world you don't let the public know something before you let the council know about it," he said. Durel added he would probably brief council members on the budget during the week before Thursday night's budget introductory meeting.
In other Lafayette Consolidated Government news, the City-Parish Council tomorrow night will hear a presentation from the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority on how it operates. Durel says he contacted LPTFA board members to speak to the council to clear any misconceptions they or the public may have about the body. According to Durel, Lafayette Consolidated Government has no authority over the LPTFA other than appointing board members. Durel also says the LPTFA does not use tax dollars to fund its projects. That money, he says, comes from selling bonds.
The council will also discuss forming another charter commission in order to amend current provisions in the City-Parish Charter. The most major issue, Durel says, is clearing up ambiguity as to who controls the Lafayette Public Utilities Authority. The LPUA, which is the governing body of the Lafayette Utilities System, is composed of the five City-Parish Council members whose districts include 60% or more of the city. Despite this, all financial items receive final approval from the full council. Durel says some residents and councilmen want to change this provision and allow the LPUA to make all of its decisions without further consent from the council.
The council will also hear discussion about helping fund a bridge repair in Youngsville. The Youngsville City Council and Mayor Wilson Viator are asking LCG to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Youngsville to help pay for this repair. Town officials wrote District 9 Councilman William Theriot to sponsor this item. In the letter, the officials claim the city pays $363,000 annually to LCG for the upkeep of roads and drainage systems without seeing the money used in their city.
Both tomorrow night's council meeting and Thursday budget meeting begin at 5:30 P. M.