St. Tammany Parish · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in St. Tammany Parish public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
New Acadian Ambulance services contract
A new four-year ambulance contract starting January 1 adds the medical helicopter, shortens backup distances, changes response reporting and adds a dispatch dashboard — all at no cost to the parish.
NAMI and the Safe Haven campus funding crisis
A consent item greenlights a medically assisted treatment clinic at the Safe Haven campus in Mandeville, run with Florida Parishes Human Service Authority.
Impact fee update and refund provision (Ord. Cal. No. 8215)
The parish wants to raise road and drainage impact fees on new homes by over 27% and delete the ten-year refund provision. Home builders want an accounting of fees collected; staff says no refunds were ever issued and only about $7,000 is refundable.
Parish jail conditions and funding shortfall
The sheriff says the proposed budget leaves him needing about $15 million from his own fund — 20% of it — just to run the parish jail, whose aging infrastructure is failing: AC breakdowns, water leaks and closed housing units. Accreditation and the $5 million federal inmate revenue are at risk.
Courts and District Attorney face 60% cuts
Judges and prosecutors told the council the proposed budget cuts court and DA funding about 60%, meaning staff layoffs, longer dockets, loss of the DNA lab and prosecutors leaving — the special victims unit is losing its lead prosecutor.
Coroner's DNA laboratory closure
The coroner's DNA lab faces a 60% cut after its millage failed to renew, and its reserves run out mid-2027. Cases would move to the state lab, which won't handle burglaries or thefts and takes far longer — hurting prosecutions.
Townhouse and development moratoriums
A six-month freeze on rezonings and building permits around Slidell continues while the parish considers buying land in the area.
December 'Keep St. Tammany Safe' sales tax proposition
President Mike Cooper called the 2027 budget the most challenging of his administration, with more than $66 million in sales-tax-funded infrastructure but a general fund that can't fully cover criminal justice obligations. The Keep Saint Tammany Safe sales tax goes to the December ballot, and public budget hearings run through late October.
Fill and grading standards for residential subdivisions (Ord. Cal. No. 8216)
Neighbors fought a 53-acre excavation over well water safety, dust, noise and truck traffic on a narrow two-lane road; the council ultimately upheld the Zoning Commission's approval 13-1. Residents vowed the fight isn't over as the project heads to permitting.
Manufactured Home Minimum Size Standards
The parish's 600-square-foot minimum for new manufactured homes is well below the regional average of about 1,100 square feet, and replacement homes can be as small as 320 square feet. Planning and Zoning will study whether to raise the floor.
Planning and Zoning Commission vacancy filled
The council chose Rene Arcemont over former commissioner Suzanne Crow for the open seat. Arcemont is already a sitting commissioner moving to a full position.
2026 Budget Amendments
Six budget ordinances adjusted operating, capital and grants funds — from library and Safe Haven projects to opioid abatement money. One drew a lone no vote from Binder.
Coffee and bottled-water spending challenged
A Pearl River resident argued nearly $150,000 in coffee and water spending across parish, assessor and sheriff offices is unconstitutional gratuitous spending. Staff and legal said it passes the Cabello test and is bought at state-contract prices, and the council dropped the resolution.
Lock No. 2 Bridge and Woodlands drainage land acquisition
Two ordinances let the parish buy the land it needs for the Lock No. 2 bridge replacement and drainage fixes in The Woodlands subdivision.
Property tax appeals — Board of Review
The council opened its Board of Review for property owners disputing their assessments; appeals are due September 14.
Abolishing obsolete building code boards
Five building code regulatory boards may go away because state law preempts local building codes. Referred to Planning & Zoning to decide.
Keep Louisiana Beautiful 'Love Our Waterways' initiative
Starting in September, the parish is being asked to join a month-long waterway and shoreline cleanup push. The state group reports nearly 5,000 tons of litter removed statewide last year and a new 855-LA-LITTER enforcement hotline.
Hwy 59 75-foot setback reduction
Phillips and Laughlin want Engineering to study whether the 75-foot setback along Highway 59 can be reduced — potentially opening more usable land along the corridor.
Read-only access to parish financial systems for councilmembers
Should every councilmember be able to log into parish financial software themselves? Administration says council staff can already pull any report; critics flagged training and security concerns. The resolution passed 12-1 after a failed attempt to postpone.
H1 Associates Covington rezoning appeals (Highway 1077 corridor)
Two appeals of the Zoning Commission's denial of up to ~700 homes between Ronald Reagan Hwy and Hwy 1077 near Covington. The Council overrode both denials after the developer agreed to lower density, bigger buffers, and 200-year storm drainage — but residents fear flooding and traffic on already-stressed roads.
FY2026 millage rates and drainage funding
The Council set parish property tax rates for next year. Most passed easily, but the drainage millage squeaked by 11-2 because Phillips and Laughlin objected to any reduction in drainage money — a pointed concern with flooding on residents' minds.
Community blood donation for America's 250th
The Blood Center warned the parish hovers at only 25-50% of daily blood supply needs, and asked the Council to promote a July 30 blood drive at the council chambers — goal: 25 donors, plus Blue Bell ice cream.