The City Council is set to consider Mayor Tim Riley’s 2026-27 Fiscal Year General Fund Budget tonight, the second time after a 3-2 vote rejected the document without explanation on April 27. It was a replay of last year when the Riley introduced the same General Fund Budget three times before the council finally adopted it, with amendments, on August 25. The mayor is hopeful that “the votes are there tonight (in order to) have a budget in place before the fiscal year ends.”
No one in the Riley administration was surprised by the outcome on April 27, a 3-2 vote against the primary operating budget. The same three members (Kirk Boudreaux, Cynthia James and Terri Lambert) in opposition to the PACE Center Economic Development District budget and unanimous approval of several others. The also chose to ignore the mandatory adoption of annual budget amendments when funds are exceeded by more than 5% (it happens regularly in Louisiana municipalities).
“We feel pretty good about it,” Mayor Riley said of the budget’s chances of approval. “At least one of the council members who voted ‘no’ has presented a potential amendment. Like last year, we are willing and eager to discuss anything the council wants to talk about.”
In fact, City Clerk Anthony Keller reached out to each of Gonzales’ five council members after the unsuccessful vote:
“Since the General Fund and PACE Center budgets failed on Monday, Mayor Riley directed me to engage with you in the hopes of coming to an agreement toward adoption of these two important budgets. We feel like there is plenty of common ground upon which (to) build consensus toward, if not unanimity, a majority position. The administration’s willingness to compromise is evidenced by the budget alterations agree to after the April 7 workshop, most if not all of which were adopted in various budgets on Monday (April 27).
To that end, please identify the specific line item(s) in the budgets you want to see changed (amended, added or deleted). A City Clerk, I am the liaison between the mayor and council. I will bring any and all items to Mayor Riley’s attention and eagerly participate in discussions necessary to come to an agreement.
Mayor Riley intends to have another vote before the 2025-26 fiscal year ends. I’m sure we all want to avoid another audit finding if the 2026-27 fiscal year begins without these budgets in place.
Please contact me at your earliest convenience.”
The current fiscal year ends on May 31.
The City Clerk declined comment, deferring to Mayor Riley who confirmed that a document purporting to be an amendment to the General Fund budget proposal was circulated by Councilwoman Terri Lambert during the May 11 council meeting.
“Councilwoman Lambert has made it clear that she wants to reduce salaries across the board,” said Mayor Riley. “It is my understanding that her amendment tries to do that.”
The first-term councilwoman already declared, “We’re not doing cost of living this year.” That was during the second of two Special Meetings called by Riley, budget workshops intended to evoke something like negotiation. The mayor’s proposed budget includes 2% COLA raises
Lambert on Budget: “We’re not doing cost of living” raises | Pelican Post – Online Newspaper
A summary of the General Fund Budget proposal:
Police Department: Total proposed budget is $9,059,000 is up from last year’s $8,424,4000 ($4,300,000 in salaries versus $4,002,000 in 2025-26).
Fire Department: Proposed budget – $5,024,000 up from $4,598,850 ($2,625,000 in salaries versus $2,321,500 last year).
Administration: Proposed budget – $1,150,000 which is a decrease from 2025-26’s $1,362,150 (salaries totaling $630,000, a decrease from last year’s $775,000. Several “administration” personnel are tasked with processing utilities payments justifying a shift in funding source to the Utility Fund which “is operating wonderfully.”)
Planning and Development: Proposed budget – $628,000, down from last year’s $648,000 (salaries remain steady at $270,000).
Sanitation: Proposed budget – $1,479,000, a slight increase from $1,452,000 (salaries – $110,000 up from $106,000. The big-ticket expenditure in Sanitation is the landfill contract, expected to cost $1,275,000 compared to 2025-26’s $1,250,000).
Streets and Drainage: Proposed budget – $1,777,000 up from $1,748,5000 (salaries – $800,000 versus $770,000)
General Government: Proposed budget – $1,866,500, a decrease from $2,131,100 in 2025-26 (salaries increasing to $205,000 from $175,000). General Government includes three “Consulting Fees” totaling $625,000 necessitated by a shift to privatization, All South Engineering replaced the longtime City Engineer last year, Faulk & Winkler contracted to undertake duties of a Finance Director.
Civic Center: Proposed budget – $48,000 down from $88,000 (no salaries).
City Room: Budget zeroed out after demolition in 2025.
Buildings and Grounds: Proposed budget – $936,000 versus $852,350 in 2025-26 (salaries – $425,00, up from $382,000).
Tourism: Proposed budget – $57,000, down from $64,045 (no salaries).
Recreation: Proposed budget – $1,146,000 compared to last year’s $1,105,350 (salaries spiked to $535,000 anticipating additional needs from the 2025-26 number, $316,750). The spike is offset by elimination of two private contracts totaling $170,000 (Athletic Field Maintenance – $75,000; Recreation League Management – $95,000).
Freeland Jackson Center: Proposed budget – $370,500 (salaries – $75,000). There was no Freeland Jackson Center budget item in last year’s budget.
Tonight’s meeting is scheduled for 5:30 at City Hall.
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