St. Tammany Parish Special Council Meeting Budget Hearing October13, 2026

Special council budget hearing of the St. Tammany Parish Council, October 13, 2026. Officials reviewed the proposed 2027 general fund budget, including roughly $16 million in revenue sources and about $18 million in expenditures, and discussed the projected use of fund balance amid declining reserves and cash-flow obligations. The hearing focused on proposed reductions to public-safety and court-related budgets. The sheriff cited an estimated $3.7 million in unfunded jail obligations under a court ruling and described the sheriff’s office’s past contributions to jail operations and capital repairs. The proposed jail budget included approximately $3.49 million for operations and maintenance and $70,000 for jail capital; council members requested more detail on funding gaps and the increase in sheriff’s contributions. The DA and judges also described operational impacts of proposed budget cuts. A proposed sales-tax measure was discussed as a potential source of future funding, but its outcome was pending.

Members also discussed reducing the general fund’s net cost for Safe Haven through leases and prospective tenants, including planned clinics, veterans housing, and a cafeteria/training program; related grant-funded work was described as being at different stages. The parish said the existing jail medical contract runs through December 31 and can be extended in six-month periods; the proposed budget could cover medical services for only part of the year, while maintenance and equipment contracts were estimated at about $4.8 million. Council members requested further information on contracts, facility costs, efficiencies, and possible cost reimbursements from outside agencies. No new procurement award, bid approval, or vendor selection was identified, and no substantive spending motion or vote was recorded in the available transcript.