(The Center Square) − A recent report from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office has revealed the expenditures in compensation for the state’s city marshals.
Salaries for these officials ranged from as low as $5,400 to a staggering $469,585 in the 2023 fiscal year, reflecting significant differences in local funding structures and state laws governing marshal compensation.
The highest-paid city marshal in Louisiana is the Baker City Marshal, who also serves as the city’s chief of police. The position’s total compensation for 2023 was $469,585, which includes $88,010 as chief of police, $57,700 as city marshal, and nearly $200,000 from commissions on garnishments.
Additionally, the marshal received $40,707 from court fines, among other benefits. The office’s staffing includes 36 full-time employees, four part-time employees, and 10 reserve deputies. Despite its high compensation, the Baker City Marshal’s office reported an operating deficit of $15,247 for the year.
Following Baker, the Alexandria City Marshal earned $238,423, largely driven by over $150,000 in commissions and court costs. The office employs eight full-time and three part-time staff. Meanwhile, the Lake Charles City Marshal received $226,443, bolstered by a $165,000 salary and other benefits. This office reported an ending fund balance of $456,902, with staffing that includes 12 full-time employees and 55 reserve deputies.
According to the report, several city marshals earned less than $10,000 annually. The Port Allen City Marshal received just $5,360, followed closely by the Winnfield City Marshal at $5,400 and the Winnsboro City Marshal at $8,800. These offices operate with minimal staffing and limited financial resources.
State law sets minimum salaries for city marshals, with some as low as $1,800 annually, and allows local governing authorities to supplement these amounts. For instance, the Hammond City Marshal, earning $214,751, receives salaries from both the city and Tangipahoa Parish, along with additional funds from the marshal’s office and state supplemental pay.
The compensation packages also include fees for civil services, such as serving subpoenas, executing warrants, and overseeing evictions. These fees can substantially boost a marshal’s income. For example, the Monroe City Marshal earned $273,170 in 2023, with over $170,000 derived from garnishments, housing evictions, and sales-related commissions.
The audit also highlights significant variation in staffing levels. Baton Rouge’s City Marshal employs the largest team, with 43 full-time employees and 30 reserve deputies, while several offices operate with no full-time staff. The New Orleans First City Court Constable’s office, for instance, employs 20 full-time staff and five part-time workers, with a total compensation of $152,944 for its head.
Financial health also varies widely among offices. While some marshals’ offices reported substantial fund balances, such as Hammond’s $718,542, others operated at a deficit, like Baker and Baton Rouge, which ended the year with shortfalls of $15,247 and $35,543, respectively.
