Patterson trims budget; mayor wants to cut 5 percent across all departments

PATTERSON — So far, city officials have cut the projected 2015-16 budget by roughly 4 percent and hope to trim a little more from the budget to meet Mayor Rodney Grogan’s request for a 5 percent, across-the-board cut.
The City Council met Tuesday at City Hall.
At April’s council meeting, Grogan proposed a 5 percent across-the-board budget cut without laying off any employees.
The council will adopt the 2015-16 budget at the June council meeting. The city’s fiscal year begins July 1.
As of Tuesday, City Accountant Reginald Weary had cut 4 percent from the budget without having to make any lay-offs, he said. As the city comes to the end of its fiscal year, Weary will be able to analyze the final budget numbers for the 2014-15 fiscal year and then have a better idea of what else he can cut from the budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year, Weary said.
Weary cut spending that he determined to be unnecessary, he said. Weary projected cuts in expenses but also hopes to cause increase revenue through utilities and taxes. Even though sales tax revenues have been down, Weary encouraged people to make more purchases in St. Mary Parish to increase those revenues, he said.
For the 2015-16 fiscal year, total expenditures are projected to be about $9.4 million. However, those expenses include about $2 million in state capital outlay money to build the city’s new water plant, Weary said.
Weary estimates the city’s 2014-15 expenditures to total about $7.7 million. The budget cut excludes state capital outlay purchases.
Weary projects total city revenues to be about $7.4 million for 2015-16. Weary does not expect any proposed budget expenses to rise, he said.
During the meeting, the city council accepted putting a four-way stop sign at the intersection of Tiffany and Waveland streets. Councilwoman Sandra Turner said placing a stop sign is an excellent idea to try to slow down traffic.
The council approved resident Ed Matherne’s request to place a 15 mph speed limit sign on Church Street from Main Street to First Street. Matherne presented a petition with 19 signatures from Patterson residents in favor of the speed limit sign.
The previous speed limit along that stretch was 25 mph on the one-way street.
Vehicles travel way too fast and Matherne’s grandson was nearly killed by a speeding vehicle due to a lack of a speed limit sign, Matherne said.
Resident Connie Boudreaux said she has seen drivers ignore the one-way sign on Church Street.
Boudreaux’s sister, who is disabled and lives across the street from Boudreaux, fell in the middle of the street after a vehicle traveling too fast nearly hit her, Matherne said.
Boudreaux wants her sister to be able to cross the street without having to worry about getting hit, she said.
The council approved an ordinance authorizing the exchange of property with the St. Mary Parish School Board. The city will exchange land that will be used by Patterson Junior High School, and in turn, the city will receive property where the current Patterson Junior High gym, cafeteria and band room are located, city attorney Russel Cremaldi said. The school board is planning to build a new Patterson Junior High School.
Once the school board approves the same agreement, both parties can go ahead and sign it, Cremaldi said.
Hattie Watts Elementary fourth-grader Zane Bartley was recognized during the meeting for receiving the COX Inspirational Hero Award. Bartley was diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy at age 2 due to a stroke, his mother, Faith Bartley said.
Hattie Watts Principal Niki Fryou said the award is given to someone who has overcome an obstacle in his or her life. The school nominated Bartley for the award with unanimous support, Fryou said.
In other business, the council:
—Approved changing the council meeting time to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. The new meeting time will go into effect for June’s council meeting.
—Adopted an ordinance levying a General Alimony Tax of 8.2 mills for 2015.
—Adopted an ordinance levying 16 mills for a public improvement bond regarding the Waterworks Issues Tax.
—Approved a request to hold 5-k walk at 8 a.m. June 6 to raise money for diabetes.
—Approved Mt. Pisgah Lodge to hold a can shake from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 30 at Catherine and Main streets to raise money to provide scholarships.

This story was written by Zachary Fitzgerald of The Daily Review staff. Reach him at zfitzgerald@daily-review.com