DeSoto Parish jury approves road department budget after review of grants, revenues and vehicle purchases

DeSoto Parish jurors voted to approve the road department’s 2025 budget after a detailed presentation on projected revenues, grant timing and planned equipment purchases.

Speaker 4 presented the numbers, saying the parish’s beginning fund balance for 2025 is $12,395,645 and that projected revenues are $22,629,009.38 while projected expenditures are about $30,000,004.48, producing a projected net decrease of $7,819,023 and a year-end fund balance of $4,576,622. Speaker 4 added that the parish would keep a four-month operating contingency reserve of $3,000,961.43.

The presentation itemized revenue sources: an ad valorem tax projected at $5,430,770, sales tax at $7,340,000 and miscellaneous revenue (mainly anticipated insurance reimbursements) at $275,000. Speaker 4 identified a $2,000,000 EDA grant, a severance tax projection of $800,000 and state grants totaling $5,865,168; he said only part of an $8,000,000 grant award was included in the budget because of cash-flow and reimbursement timing.

On expenditures, Speaker 4 proposed salaries of $3,096,731 for 2025 (up from an expected year-end $2,990,173) reflecting a proposed 2.5% cost-of-living increase and step increases for eligible employees. Overtime was projected at $180,000 with procedures noted to avoid exceeding that amount except in emergencies.

Jurors and residents questioned capital outlay lines and road priorities. Speaker 4 listed several road projects and estimated costs, including I-49 Industrial Park ($6,100,000), Wallace Lake Road ($850,000), Cook Creek Road ($615,000) and Bethlehem Road ($1,000,000). He said portions of Marshall Road and Red Bluff design work are expected to be funded from HB 2 allocations and Parish Transportation Fund (PTF) money but cautioned that a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) and reimbursements were pending.

The presentation also included vehicle and equipment replacements. Speaker 4 said the parish planned to replace five vehicles and buy several pieces of equipment, with total vehicle costs roughly $1,388,940. He also proposed purchasing 65 Motorola APX mobile radio units for about $120,000 and said that the sheriff’s office would assist with programming and installation under a CEA to address incompatible frequencies and reliance on sheriff-maintained repeaters.

Speaker 5 raised questions about warranty and bonding if the sheriff’s office assists with installation; Speaker 3 said the parish currently bears repair costs on its radios and offered to ask the sheriff’s office about warranty details.

After discussion, Speaker 2 called for a motion. Speaker 1 moved to approve the road department budget, the motion was seconded by "Miss Trina," and Speaker 2 called for a voice vote and announced, "Motion passes." The jury noted the budget can be amended and that the full committee would review and advertise the complete budget for formal adoption by mid-January.

Next steps: the finance staff will prepare the advertised full budget for committee review and the jury can amend or adopt the full budget before the statutory adoption deadline.