Gov't

Attorney General Advises City of Central

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By Dave Freneaux
    In Central’s short history Louisiana’s Attorney General has only issued two opinions on the governmental affairs of the city.  The first was in 2009 regarding a zoning issue and now the second was issued last week.  In December, in an effort to resolve a six month long Council debate about budget amendments, Mayor Watts made the request of the AG’s office.
    In June of 2012 the City Council voted to limit funding of one line item and provide only enough funding for two months so that this budget item could be further studied.   Because there are state laws regulating the funding of budget items, and while the issue was still being debated by the Council, the Mayor requested clarification from the Attorney General.  The Council voted in early January to restore the funding for the fiscal year to the levels negotiated in last May’s budget workshop.
    The Attorney General, in the January 24th opinion, advised the City of Central that Louisiana law requires that all items in the budget be funded for the entire fiscal year.  AG Opinion 12-0244 states, “Thus, it is the opinion of this office that the governing authority may not amend a line item in the chief executive or administrative officer’s proposed budget to intentionally provide less than a full fiscal year of funding for a line item in the budget.”  The entire opinion can be seen at www.ag.state.la.us.
    When asked about the decision Mayor Watts stated, “This is a positive step forward, using resources like the AG’s office to work together and find ways to operate our city government more efficiently.”  The Mayor will begin work on the proposed 2013/2014 budget in just a few months, with final approval of the budget by the City Council due by early June.
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