Parish keeping promise with West Bank splash park

A splash park for the West Bank is on the list of 2019 projects planned for St. Charles Parish.

Parish President Larry Cochran said the splash park, an estimated $500,000 project planned at Edward Dufresne Community Center, would be fulfilling a promise to West Bank residents and be among the parish’s major projects next year. There’s one on the East Bank in Destrehan, which has been a popular feature.

The spray park also is among nearly $3 million in recreational projects that will be discussed at the St. Charles Parish 2019 budget hearings.

Cochran said the budget will include more capital spending overall next year especially in recreation.

Funds have been budgeted for the long sought dog park, West Bank boat launch, as well as drainage upgrades for Montz and the second-floor renovation of the St. Charles Parish Courthouse in Hahnville.

Next year’s $77.8 million budget will be the focus of three public hearings scheduled 9 a.m. Oct. 23; 6 p.m. Oct. 25 and 6 p.m. Oct. 30. All three hearings will be held in the Council Chambers at the courthouse.

“Every district is being touched,” Cochran said.

The general fund will increase from $6 million this year to $17 million next year, reflecting what Cochran said are the many capital improvements planned in the parish.

At the same time, the parish president said efforts are continuing with levee construction.

Cochran added, “The levees tie up a lot of our money, but we also are doing a lot as far as quality of life.”

2019 budget highlights:

• Millage rollbacks are still anticipated in 2019.
• Ad valorem tax revenue is expected to increase 2 percent to $26 million, making up 33 percent of revenue.
• Sales tax collections are expected to reach a record $34 million, up 2.2 percent over this year’s projected $33.7 million.
• 2019 projected revenues will not cover anticipated expenditures requiring fund transfers or carryover funding from previous years. Also, anticipated industry projects are expected to generate considerable sales tax revenue increases in 2019 and 2020 budgets.