Bossier City budget issues will require tax hikes and utility bill increases
Plus — Is this Bossier City neighborhood safe? Fake invoice fraud.
Beyond Bossier
Bossier City budget issues will require tax hikes and utility bill increases
The City of Bossier City is facing serious budget issues that will require more revenue. That means a likely tax hike and higher utility bills.
At a budget workshop last week, City Chief Administrative Officer Amanda Nottingham detailed some of the biggest financial issues the City faces:
An increase in salaries requires $2.5 million to meet the initial goals recommended by the recently completed salary study, which showed that 63% of City employees were below the market minimum.
A $1 million dollar increase in the City's share of group benefits.
General liability insurance charges have a budgeted increase of $2.5 million.
"We have had very high increases in our insurance over the last several years. And that is, I mean, ultimately it's not sustainable," Nottingham said.
To increase revenue, Nottingham said the City would need to:
Hike property taxes by rolling millages forward in 2025. "That was not done this year, but that is an additional approximately $1.1 million, and three of those millages, three of the four, are dedicated to fire and police," Nottingham said.
Raise the sanitation fee by $12 per household. Nottingham said the City lost $4.3 million last year providing sanitation, water, and sewer services.
A possible future increase in utility rates. That will be considered after the City institutes meter replacements.
Is this Bossier City neighborhood safe? A meeting to provide answers to be held Wednesday
An area of Bossier City, formerly the Moss American Inc. Rail Tie Creosoting Plant site, has long been the subject of cleanup, testing and investigation. Still, residents wonder if the area is safe — and what will happen next.
The 32-acre site is located at 520 Hamilton Road along the south side of Green Street, approximately a half-mile north of Interstate 20. The affected area is on both sides of Hamilton Road, with about 26 acres on the east and six acres on the west.
From 1930 to 1987, Kerr‐McGee Chemical LLC and its predecessors treated railroad ties with a mixture of creosote and fuel oil on the property. The site was decommissioned in 1988.
Authorities say creosote-related contamination is present on both properties because of the wood treatment operations.
In 2011, as part of a bankruptcy settlement, the Multistate Trust was established to own, investigate, and clean up the area. The renewal began with the excavation and removal of some 12,500 cubic yards of contaminated soil around Scott-Dickerson Homes. In 2023, the parking lot was replaced, and restoration activities were completed.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Multistate Environmental Response Trust are hosting a community drop-in session on Wednesday, October 16, to discuss recently completed residential indoor air testing and other environmental actions and investigations in the area.
Community Drop-in Information Session:
Wednesday, October 16, 2024, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Multistate Trust and LDEQ representatives will be available to answer questions.
Location: Red River Missionary Baptist Church, 1831 Scott Street, Bossier City.
Note: Hamilton Road is currently closed between East Texas Street and Scott Street. To reach the meeting location, from the north, use Youree Street from East Texas Street, or from the south, use Hamilton Road from Barksdale Boulevard.
Food will be provided.
See the drop-in session flyer here.
BossierNow background:
Presentation from July 2024 Community Meeting
Indoor Air Investigation Fact Sheet
Ongoing Soil Excavation Work Fact Sheet
Tronox Tort Claims Trust Fact Sheet
Multistate Trust website for Bossier City Site
Bossier Parish fraud: Fake invoices that appear to be from legit local agencies
A new fraud is making its way into Bossier Parish.
Authorities say the scam involves fake invoices — for significant amounts of money — being issued to local businesses.
One of the fraudulent schemes involves invoices that appear to be issued by the Bossier City-Parish Metropolitan Planning Commission.
The invoice claims to be from "The City of Bossier City Planning Commission," demanding payment to process an application. To appear legitimate, the statement includes the names of Bossier City employees and the names and case numbers of active applications.
"Residents, property owners, and applicants are advised that the MPC does not mail or email PDF invoices for pending applications. Anyone who has received one of these fraudulent invoices is advised to contact the Bossier City Police Department or the Bossier Sheriff’s Department," officials said in a release.
To avoid being scammed, look for requests for payment from unfamiliar or unverified agencies, suspicious email addresses, incorrect spelling, and PDF attachments.
Jimmie Davis Bridge: Lane closure Wednesday
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development says that on Wednesday, October 16th, the westbound lane of the Jimmie Davis Bridge will be closed for a routine bridge inspection from approximately 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
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