2023-0115
INTRODUCED BY: HOLLY FONSECA, COUNCILWOMAN-AT-LARGE, DIVISION B
BETH A. BILLINGS, COUNCILWOMAN-AT-LARGE, DIVISION A
LA SANDRA DARENSBOURG GORDON, COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT I
MARY K. CLULEE, COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT II
DICK GIBBS, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT III
BOB FISHER, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT VI
ORDINANCE NO. ___________
Title
An ordinance to provide for amendments of the St. Charles Parish Home Rule Charter, Article III, Sections A. 2. and B. 2., to adjust the annual salaries of the St. Charles Parish Council and Parish President as well as provide for submission of the proposed amendments to the qualified electors of the Parish of St. Charles.
Body
WHEREAS, the Parish Council is the Governing Authority and the Parish President is the Chief Executive Officer of St. Charles Parish, with a Consolidated Budget of over 293 million dollars in expenditures and 532 employees in 2023; and,
WHEREAS, the Home Rule Charter, adopted by voters in 1977, set Parish Council salaries at $7,200.00 per year for District Council Members and $9,600.00 per year for At Large Council Members, and set the Parish President’s salary at $30,000.00 per year; and,
WHEREAS, the Home Rule Charter was last amended more than 35 years ago in 1987, to limit Parish Council salary increases and to no more than ten (10%) percent over any four year period and the Parish President’s salary increases to no more than three and one-half (3.5%) percent in any one year, not exceed ten 10% percent over any four year period; and,
WHEREAS, only 30% of Louisiana parishes’ populations are greater than St. Charles Parish’s population, yet Council members or Police Jurors in 71% and 53% of Louisiana parishes receive a higher salary than St. Charles Parish District and At Large Council members, respectively; and,
WHEREAS, the Parish President is currently the lowest paid full-time parish wide elected official with the largest number of employees and largest financial and operational responsibilities; and,
WHEREAS, Article III, Section A. 2. of the Home Rule Charter provides that the salary of the Parish Council members cannot be increased more than ten (10%) percent over any four year period and Section B. 2. provides that the salary of the Parish President cannot be increased more than three and one-half (3.5%) percent in any one year and must not exceed more than ten (10%) percent over any four year period; and,
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of St. Charles Parish that the annual salaries of the Parish Council and Parish President be set at a rate which is more in line with their peers and the responsibilities of their respective offices; and,
WHEREAS, in order to address this inequity amendments to the Home Rule Charter are required; and,
WHEREAS, the St. Charles Parish Legislative Committee held a public meeting on May 22, 2023, to review proposed amendment options; and,
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Parish Council and Parish President to present the amendment proposals to the electorate of St. Charles Parish on the next regularly scheduled election date, October 14, 2023.
THE ST. CHARLES PARISH COUNCIL HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION I. That the following amendment proposals shall be presented to the electorate of St. Charles Parish on the next regularly scheduled election date, October 14, 2023, to amend the St. Charles Parish Home Rule Charter, effective January 8, 2024.
SECTION II. That the St. Charles Parish Council shall adopt forthwith a resolution calling an election for the purpose of presenting the following propositions.
CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSITIONS
Proposition 1 Shall Article III, Section A.2 of the St. Charles Parish Home Rule Charter be amended to read:
2. Salary
The members of the parish council elected at large shall receive an annual salary of $24,000.00 and the members elected by districts shall receive an annual salary of $19,200.00, effective January 8, 2024. The annual salaries of the parish council, as established herein, shall be adjusted by the same percentage rate as the cost of living adjustment approved for civil service employees in 2025 and each succeeding year thereafter. Each member shall receive his actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of his duties, within limitations established by the parish council.
Proposition 2 Shall Article III, Section B.2 of the St. Charles Parish Home Rule Charter be amended to read:
2. Salary
The annual salary of the parish president shall be fixed at $175,000.00, effective January 8, 2024, and may be increased by ordinance of the parish council, provided that an ordinance increasing the president’s salary shall not be passed during the last year of a term and no salary increase shall become effective during the term in which the ordinance is adopted. The parish president shall be eligible for all benefits available to full-time employees of the Parish.
The foregoing ordinance having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
And the ordinance was declared adopted this day of , 2023, to become effective five (5) days after publication in the Official Journal.
CHAIRMAN:_________________________________________
SECRETARY:________________________________________