Parish hears 2017 budget plan
Published 5:46 am Friday, November 25, 2016
The Washington Parish Council had a brief, routine meeting Monday evening.
The board quickly approved two agenda items — the first of which was a proposed 2017 budget and the second of which was a refinancing package for $3.5 million in bonds for the Varnado Water District.
“It’s basically the same thing we did for Bogalusa Water Works,” said Donna Graham, the parish’s director of finance.
Both of these measures passed with little comment from the board.
After that there was no public participation and parish President Ned Thomas gave a brief update about new appointments that would need to be made for a variety of public boards. Thomas said he would need replacements for Lionel K. Jones on the Hospital District No. 1, three people for the library board when three terms wrap up Dec. 31 and two positions for Washington Parish Fire District No. 3 when those tenures expire at the end of the year.
Although it was not on the agenda, the board moved to formally accept the resignation of Jones.
Thomas then said he wanted to remind everyone that parish offices would be closed, for the most part, on Thursday and Friday due to the holiday. However, he said Choctaw Landfill will be open on Friday.
At the close of the meeting, councilman Levi Lewis thanked the administration for their assistance in assessing the Angie Junior High School structures. Lewis explained the library is considering taking over the buildings if they can be used.
Then councilman Michael Fussell thanked the parish road department for road repairs in District 2 and council President Pete Thomas wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving and thanked Graham for the 2017 budget,
The next meeting will be Monday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. at the parish courthouse.