It’s deja vu, all over again as Gonzales City Council rejected the 2026-27 General Fund Budget proposed by Mayor Tim Riley on Monday. No one in the Riley administration was surprised by the outcome, a 3-2 vote against the primary operating budget, the same three members in opposition to the PACE Center Economic Development District budget and unanimous approval of several others. Mayor Riley promised to “try it again, hopefully before the current fiscal year comes to an end on May 31.”
The council would not adopt the 2025-26 budget until August 25 after twice rejecting Riley’s first proposed General Fund budget last year.
Council members Kirk Boudreaux, Cynthia Gray James and Terri Lambert comprised the majority. Inexplicably, Councilman Tyler Turner landed in the minority favoring adoption with Eddie Williams. Prior to the vote, Turner made a motion to reduce Administration Department salaries from $660,000 to $460,000 which failed for lack of a second.
Numerous city personnel, including those employed by Gonzales Police and Fire Departments are remunerated through the General Fund. Should the council fail to adopt the budget when the current fiscal year comes to an end, half of the 2025-26 budget is automatically appropriated pursuant to Louisiana’s Local Government Budget Act (found at Revised Statutes 39:1301-1315).
“Hope for the best, prepare for the worst,” a sanguine Chief of Staff Wade Petite characterized the budget process. “This comes as no surprise, three council members declining to adopt the budget ordinance without a syllable of explanation. We spent nearly four months of 2025 before resolving the issue and we are prepared to go forward with or without an approved General Fund Budget ordinance.”
What choice does the administration have?
Hoping to avoid the 2025 scenario, Mayor Riley convened to council budget workshop (on April 7 and April 21) so that “any disagreements could be ironed out before Monday’s vote.” Three amendments were agreed to at the first workshop, each reflected in the several budget that were adopted last night:
- Utility Fund
- Capital Outlay
- Wastewater Impact Fees Fund
- Tanger Mall Economic Development District
- Conway Economic Development District
April 21’s second budget workshop was dominated by criticism of salary increases. Monday’s majority (Lambert, Boudreaux and James) leading the discussion as Tyler Turner was absent and Eddie Williams defended the administration. Prominently targeted were multiple salary bumps in the Utilities Department, the rest in Finance/Recreation which are paid out of the General Fund.
Illogically, all three of the recalcitrant council members voted to approve the Utilities budget last night.
A third budget item was rejected by the same 3-2 vote, this one to Amending the Fiscal Year 2025-20 26 Operating Budgets which were exceed by more than 5%. A routine legislative appropriating function, the council is compelled to approve the amendment. That is according to Mayor Riley, relying on City Attorney Allen Davis’ opinion.
“We’ll have the amendment, along with the other budget requests on another agenda before the end of the current fiscal year,” Mayor Riley promised. “We will do our best to avoid what happened last year by directly engaging with three council members beginning immediately.”
What adjustments to the General Fund Budget do you need in return for a YES vote?
“I am available and eager to negotiate with each and every council member, every day from now until we get to a deal done,” Mayor Riley assured.
Are three council members willing to do the same?
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