[StBernard] More St. Bernard Parish government layoffs; 2013 budget discussions continue

[Westley Annis]

More St. Bernard Parish government layoffs; 2013 budget discussions continue
 By Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune 
on January 16, 2013 at 3:29 PM, updated January 16, 2013 at 3:45 PM Print

The St. Bernard Parish government recently laid off another 10 employees,
adding to the 82 positions eliminated last year. The move comes as the
parish administration and St. Bernard Parish Council members are scheduled
to sit down to discuss amendments to the 2013 budget.


Chief Administrative Officer Jerry Graves said on Wednesday that he does not
expect any of the layoffs to adversely affect government services. But, he
said any more layoffs to come likely would require such cuts.

"I really think we have gotten to that point," Graves said. "Even with all
the cuts that were made last year. we have been able to make these cuts
without eliminating any services."

"But, I really think we are at the threshold now, that any cuts we will make
will have to be in tandem with some services being cut."

The layoffs included four people from the parish road department, one from
the administration, one from the grant office, one from the tourism office,
one from water and sewer, one from human resources and one from animal
control.

They will save the government about $300,000 a year, Graves said. The
employees' last day was on Friday.

In addition, there were five other employees who were transferred this week
to other, grant-funded positions. Graves said those transfers saved the
parish about $200,000 to $250,000 a year.

On Thursday, the three members of the council's Executive Finance Committee,
chaired by Councilman Guy McInnis, will meet with Graves, Parish President
Dave Peralta, parish finance director Ross Gonzales, and others in the
administration, to discuss the 2013 budget.

Last week, the council declined to introduce the parish administration's
proposed 2013 budget amendments. McInnis instead referred the amendments to
the Executive Finance Committee.

McInnis said on Wednesday that, depending on the Thursday talks with parish
government, the Executive Finance Committee might take up newly discussed
amendments during a meeting on Monday.

Then, the council might introduce those amendments at its 3 p.m. Tuesday
meeting.

One of the main talking points Thursday likely will be the Fire Department
and how to pair its new 20 mills with a $1.75 million, two-year federal
SAFER grant. Also, the councilmen and parish administrators are expected to
discuss whether bond money will be needed - and if so, how much - to receive
some of that money before it becomes available at the tail end of this year.