(The Center Square) — The Bossier City Council moved its new charter to be on a March special election ballot this week following a ruling from the Louisiana Bond Commission rejecting the council’s proposed changes being on the December ballot.
The reason the bond commission rejected the amended charter is because it did not include retroactive term limits which many citizens have supported. If it were to be on the ballot in December, it would be the only option for voters.
The Bossier City Term Limits Coalition have brought the issue to court, and are expecting a ruling after the December election but before the March election.
If the court were to rule in the coalition’s favor, there would have to be two amended charters on the ballot: The one the city council offered and the one the coalition argued for with retroactive term limits.
The council has received a lot of negative feedback in recent meetings over their handling of term limits in the charter, but that isn’t the only decision causing uproar.
Several ordinances were introduced at Tuesday’s regular meeting that amend budgets and funds in 2025 that would cost the city more money.
However, the city might not be able to afford such actions.
“Bossier has about a $3 million shortfall in next year’s budget without increasing the millage,” Bossier City citizen David Crocket said. Crocket also expressed concern that this deficit would be covered by raising taxes.
At-large Councilman David Montgomery responded to Crocket and the stories he used as sources in his claims.
“You should learn the fundamentals of governmental accounting, which you can go back to college for,” Montgomery said. “The allegations that are levied here are like my grandfather used to say, ‘you can’t argue with ignorance.'”
The council did not confirm nor deny if they would be in a deficit or if that would mean they needed to raise taxes, but they did say a budget shortfall does not necessarily equate to a tax increase.
“I wouldn’t jump to say that raising taxes is the first, quickest, easiest way we’re going to do that, we can get creative,” at-large Councilman Chris Smith said.
Smith also noted he was happy with the budgetary changes because they give raises to city employees who deserve them.
“I’m proud of this budget because I know as a council we worked hard to come up with needed pay raises,” Smith said. “I’m happy to see we’re taking care of the people who take care of us.”
