(The Center Square) – The Bossier City Council approved $74 million in general fund revenue and $76 million in general fund spending for the next fiscal year on Tuesday after all members voted in favor of the new budget.
Key takeaways in the adopted budget include a 2% pay increase for part-time employees advocated for by Councilwoman Debra Ross, an increase of 4.9% in general fund expenses, 14.8% increase in general fund revenue and nearly 4.5% more in sales tax revenue in the upcoming year.
There is a $3.4 million increase in salaries, but this is partially due to raises already given to employees this year that were not included in the 2025 budget. Civil service police and fire department employees will receive a state-mandated 2% cost-of-living increase and noncivil service employees will receive a 2% increase as well.
In previous meetings, the council addressed millages with administration. Budget projections were based on propoerty millages rolling forward, however, it is still unclear whether this will be necessary.
Chief Administrative Officer Amanda Nottingham updated the council on a $13 million bond payoff in the works to eliminate a substantial amount of city debt during the budget approval process. Once the council appropriates the funds through ordinance, paying off the bonds will save the city approximately $905,000 a year.
There are no early payoff penalties for the bond either; however, other areas explored by the administration for savings did have penalties, so this is the next route until those get reevaluated.
In October, finance committee member and Bossier Councilman Joel Girouard said the city was in a strong financial position, as sales tax increases and debts decrease. The city receives 50% of its revenue from sales tax, 25% from property tax and 25% from rates, fees, water bills, etc.
Despite the council holding a public hearing on the budget Tuesday, no residents arrived to speak for or against. The council combined Ordinances 2 through 29 and passed both the budgets and the capital budgets in one vote.
Administration plans to present an ordinance at the next City Council meeting to allocate the necessary funds to pay off the bond.
