(The Center Square) — A 2025 budget and some increases in construction costs were adopted during the Bossier City Council meeting this week.
The budget has been a hot topic for some time. Because it’s an ordinance, it has to be introduced and then approved twice via majority vote, all at separate meetings.
The issues the public took with this budget at Tuesday’s meeting were the same as last meeting, which The Center Square wrote about previously.
David Crocket, a member of the Bossier Term Limits Coalition, spoke against taking a million dollars out of the streets and drainage fund when people all over the city have potholes and cracks down their roads.
Although he supports pay raises, which is one big point of emphasis in this budget, Crocket also felt that it isn’t fair for every city employee to get the same raise. He says higher ranking police officers are paid above the market range and still getting the same bump as younger police officers.
“There’s a police wage disparity in Bossier City, especially at the lower ranks. At the higher ranks, I think you’re amongst the highest paid. But you’re giving everyone the same pay raise. I think that’s foul,” Crocket said.
Additionally, sewer, maintenance, and other less appreciated city employees are still some of the most underpaid positions in the area.
In response, the council assured the police in attendance that everyone will be at the market minimum or above. Nobody will be underpaid, according to District 3 councilmember Don Williams.
Williams also said he asked the fire and police departments for their recommendations and says the budget did exactly what they asked. He also pointed out that those departments will be given extra money to give pay raises at their own discretion.
District 1 councilmember Brian Hammons was the only vote in opposition of the budget at the last meeting, but said after a meeting with the budget writers he feels it’s fair despite its flaws.
The budget passed once again, for the last time, and in this meeting it was unanimous.
Later in the meeting the council gave money to several construction projects in need.
The Airline Drive Rehabilitation Project required additional asphalt material and patching due to field conditions. The additional work required an additional $50,853 be added to the construction contract, which was approved unanimously.
Two vehicle detection systems totaling $40,000 were approved for the intersections of Stockwell Road and Shed Road and Shed Road at Hickory Ridge Drive because the existing ones failed. Replacing the vehicle detection systems at these locations will help improve public safety.
Lastly, the council declared an emergency to replace three gravity sewer manholes and an entire gravity main segment along Bruce St. and O’Keefe streets that collapsed from excessive use and ground water infiltration.
The manholes are critical infrastructure in the city’s wastewater collection system and will cost $754,548 to fix.
