Lafayette councils pass budget heavy on infrastructure, light on jail
The Lafayette City and Parish councils on Thursday voted to pass a combined budget of $800 million for the 2025/2026 fiscal year.
The budget, which goes into effect Nov. 1, features some significant changes from the administration’s first proposal in July.
The final version does not include any new funding for Lafayette’s City Hall, after City Council Chair Kenneth Boudreaux opposed allocating funds to that purpose, leaving the money in the city’s bond reserves for future projects.
According to Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mark Garber and his deputies, the budget also remains short on jail funding. The city had long granted the Sheriff $1.25 million annually for capital expenses, but will no longer award those funds as of November, discontinuing an agreement that had been in place for several decades.
Published:August 201:25 pm COLUMN: How Boulet’s City Hall renovation proposal fell shortThe almost 70-year-old building has a long and growing list of deficiencies. But seemingly no one knew just how grand an effort Boulet was envisioning.
“I’ve seen the effects of low morale and limited resources firsthand,” said Lt. Jeff Duhon when addressing both councils, warning that Lafayette could see crime rates similar to those of Baton Rouge and New Orleans if jail funding isn’t increased. “These cities prove that once a mistake is made, it’s nearly impossible to fix. Please trust that we are only asking for the funding we need.”
For the administration, the budget represents an investment in infrastructure, highlighting $31 million for reconstruction and replacement, which includes the Bertrand Drive Revitalization plan and smaller projects like public bathrooms at the Parc Auto Du Centre-Ville parking garage at the heart of Downtown.
“This budget is about strengthening the foundation of our parish—from roads and drainage to public safety and recreation—while preparing for the future,” said Boulet in LCG’s release.
