Iberia
New Iberia Facing Budget Cuts
Posted: Jun 4, 2012 10:41 PM by KATC
Updated: Jun 4, 2012 10:45 PM
Budget cuts are likely for the city of New Iberia. City Council met with the mayor today to discuss the status of the budget and talk about changes for next year.
New Iberia Mayor Hilda Curry says, "It's just one of those things you can't spend more than what you're bringing in." Curry says despite being fiscally responsible, the city will have to tighten it's belt again.
"Sales tax revenue is not increasing at the same pace as the cost of doing business with the city," says Curry.
In order to keep services like garbage pick-up and road maintenance intact, areas like parks and recreation could bare the brunt of cuts.
Curry says, "We've already looked at some of the park programs and reduced the number of programs that are offered and if a program is not paying for itself we're not going to be able to offer it."
She goes on to say, a small price to pay for job security. "My goal is to not lay any of our employees off," says Curry.
Mayor Hilda Curry adds layoffs are a last resort, but the city may cut some open positions. The good news is, she says, sales tax revenue has increased about six percent over the last six months and she's hopeful that trend will continue.
Curry says the city's most significant department in the red is garbage collection---facing a 500 thousand dollar deficit. But, she says she's confident the cuts and continued growth in sales tax revenue will help out.
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