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
The council closed its meeting to discuss the parish's ongoing lawsuit against District Attorney Warren Montgomery over the criminal justice funding dispute.
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.
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.
December 'Keep St. Tammany Safe' sales tax proposition
The council called a December 12, 2026 special election on a five-year, quarter-cent sales tax for the criminal justice system, avoiding a crowded November ballot. Critics like Carl Ernst say ten years is too long and want hard numbers first; supporters say due diligence can continue before the vote.
Townhouse and development moratoriums
The council extended or introduced six-month pauses on new apartments, PUDs and multifamily projects in Districts 5, 7, 11, 12, 13 and 14, citing apartment saturation, the future highway corridor and drainage basins.