(The Center Square) — The Bossier City budget for 2025 will have higher expenditures on the back of public safety salary increases.
Total expenditures for the city is expected to increase by 2.02% equaling just over $276 million. Majority of that shift is happening in the general fund with almost a $9 million increase.
Public safety is responsible for almost $6 million of that increase, and The Center Square reported previously that this is the result of increased wages for police and fire department employees, among other things.
There is, however, a decrease in the streets and drainage fund in the total budget summary by almost $3 million, or 63.5%. Jail and municipal buildings will see a decrease as well, by 83.7% down to only $215,000.
Alternative fuel stations are down 11.9% in total expenditures to $790,000.
Additionally, the city is expected to receive less disaster reserve funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Certain city employees have not received much of a raise compared to their public safety counterparts, and every police and fire employee got the same bump. This means even higher level, well paid employees. Some citizens expressed concerns over not spreading the wealth properly at the council meeting last Tuesday.
The reason the city has to choose between funds and be careful with what they spend is because of a lower projected revenue intake in 2025. Shreveport, Caddo, and Bossier city have all had the same problem of a decreasing population and lack of economic growth.
As a result, there’s a likely sales tax decrease of almost $5 million. The city did raise property taxes in hopes of covering that gap, but it likely won’t be enough to afford everything the city needs.
Total revenues is projected at $64.5 million for the general fund, which is $4 million less than 2024 and $8.5 million less than projected general fund expenditures at which sits at almost $73 million. That’s $9 million more than 2024.
