– The St. Martinville city budget will see an increase in revenue and spending in the 2026-27 fiscal year from capital outlay projects of nearly $5 million over its 2025-26 budget, the City Council was told during a special hearing held before the council’s regular meeting on Monday.
The budget for 202627 includes $5,246,750 in grants and miscellaneous revenue, an increase of 1,666 percent over 202526’s estimated $297,028, accountant Burton Kolder told the City Council.
Kolder presented the budget to the council. The budget was largely prepared by city Chief Financial Officer Katy Bujard, Kolder said.
Total government funds for fiscal year 2027 is $6,565,000, including $5,246,250 from grants and $1,318,750 from local match money, taken from the city’s funds.
With the utility fund added in, the total capital outlay budget request is $13,498,791, of which $11,823,908 is from grants and $1,674,883 is from local match funds.
“So we have $13 1/2 million of proposed capital spending, of which $11,823,000, pretty much 80 percent of it, will be funded by grants and direct appropriations,” Kolder said. “Which is phenomenal.”
The amended budget includes actual numbers for the past 10 months and estimates for the final two months. The fiscal year ends June 30.
The budget for 202627 includes provisions for 2.5 percent raises for employees, on average. Some will receive higher raises as longer-term employees and others will receive smaller raises, with department heads and managers evaluating the scheduled raises and the department head and Mayor Jason Willis evaluating and assessing the salary adjustments.
Budget
According to the budget, the city’s total revenues are going down 5.3 percent, from an estimated $4,048,343 in 2026 to a budget of $3,833,820 in 2027.
Expenditures are increasing by 10.06 percent, from an estimated $5,694,192 in 2026 to $6,267,031 in 2027. That $2,433,211 deficiency is an increase of 47.84 percent over 2026’s $1,645,849. The fund balance is going from $1,842,384 to $819,173 as a result.
All basic consumption rates for utilities remain the same, Kolder said. Fuel adjustments will be made on a monthly basis, based on the SLEMCO charges. The water department budget is only for eight months because the water department is going to be transferred to the Consolidated Water District No. 4 office at the end of the current consolidation process.
Bujard noted some changes to the budget such as budgeting for recreation purchases. In the past, funds were in the department savings accounts but since purchases weren’t budgeted for, the money could not be used without amending the budget. A small fund in the budget allows for some purchases to be made without having to amend the budget at a council meeting.
Pay for a Culture, Tourism and Recreation office manager also has been added to the budget, Bujard said.
Total operating revenues have increased from $12,998,869 in 2025 to $14,956,031 in 2026 to $18,668,731 in 2027.
Expenditures increased from $13,747,143 in 2025 to $14,441,347 in 2026 to $20,916,961 in 2027.
The operating income was a loss of $748,274 in 2025, a surplus of $512,68 in 2026 and a loss of $2,248,220 in 2027.
The city fund balance/ net position was $12,751,147 in 2025, $13,295,574 in 2026 and $17,653,626 in 2027.
“I think I made the comment to Carol (Frederick, District 2 Councilwoman) last week (during budget meetings with council members), this council is leaving the new council in much better shape than when y’all took office,” Kolder said. “I think y’all know that. When y’all took office, we weren’t in very good shape.”
The council adopted ordinances amending the 2026 budget and adopting the operating budget for 2027 during its regular meeting.
The mayor said that the new council and mayor will be sworn in on July 1. The council will include current members Jonas Fontenette (District 3) and Flo Chatman (District 4) ; new members Brad Horton, who won the District 1 election, and George Choplin, who ran unopposed in District 2, and the winner of a runoff in District 4 between incumbent Janise Anthony and challenger Monica Charles, who face off in a June 27 election. Willis won re-election as Mayor in a four-person race.
In other business The mayor and council presented a plaque to Councilman Mike Fuselier in honor of his 34 years in office.
“I want to personally thank you and commend you for 34 years giving public service as a member of the council,” the mayor said. “To watch this city go from then to now, and still be active in the community, I want to commend you.”
“Thirty-four years is a long time,” Fuselier said, with city attorney Allan Durand noting that Fuselier attended 816 meetings.
“I want to thank, of course, my Lord above for giving me this opportunity, and my family for putting up with me through all this.” Fuselier said. “I got to serve with four mayors, 25 or more council members. And I also want to thank my constituents for electing me over and over. It was just time for me to move on. I hope to serve on the school board one day, (with education) being my other love. It humbles me that you would give me that trust for 34 years. I appreciate you all. God bless you.”
Fuselier was attending his last meeting as a councilman after opting not to run for office again this spring. He said he plans to run for a seat on the school board, as education is his second passion in addition to his city council service. Members of his family joined him at the meeting.
Police Chief Ricky Martin also announced his retirement at the meeting. (See related story.)
The mayor also reminded residents that with higher temperatures over the next three months, utility bills will be higher. He suggested changing thermostat settings so that air conditioners aren’t running as much to help keep utility bills from running so high.
