St. Tammany Parish · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in St. Tammany Parish public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Manufactured Home Minimum Size Standards
Cougle's referral asks the Planning and Zoning Commission to build a conditional-use pathway so residents in hardship — like a deployed service member whose home lost power — can keep or replace a manufactured home without rezoning. Critics note the current MHO patchwork amounts to spot zoning.
Property tax appeals — Board of Review
The council opened its Board of Review for property owners disputing their assessments; appeals are due September 14.
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.
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.
Sewage treatment plant compliance reports
The council acknowledged environmental audit reports for a dozen-plus parish sewage treatment facilities, with Cougle pulling the Cross Gates report to question 2025 permit exceedances and a failed biomonitoring test — staff said the causes were identified and corrected.
School Board notification of zoning changes
Laughlin's referral asks P&Z to set up official notice to the School Board of major zoning changes and subdivisions so schools can plan. The School Board's special counsel welcomed it and staff said an email distribution list will handle it.
Goodbee-area rezonings (Ordinances 8153 and 8154)
The council rezoned two parcels near Ronald Reagan Highway and Highway 1077 for suburban residential development — the smaller Esperanza tract (10-4) and the larger ~800-home Isidore tract (8-6). Residents warned of flooding, traffic gridlock and schools; the developer says engineering and drainage studies come later and the UDC governs.
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
Corbin's amendment slashes the drainage millage from 1.56 to 0.56, returning about $3.16 million a year to taxpayers. The parish president warned drainage was the only millage voters approved in 2021 and cutting it shifts costs to the sales tax and grants.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Law enforcement millage renewal on June ballot
The Sheriff's Office is asking voters to renew a 4.31-mill, ten-year law enforcement millage — about $8 a month on a $300,000 home — that funds 142 deputies, dispatch and equipment. The Sheriff says $9.3 million was shifted from the general fund to cover the jail and the millage is essential.
Mosquito Abatement millage renewal
Dr. Caillouet promoted the June 27 renewal lowering the district's max millage from 4.2 to 2.95 mills, saving taxpayers about $4 million a year while West Nile remains a yearly threat.
Folsom annexation of 4.52 acres
The council agreed the Village of Folsom can annex and rezone 4.52 acres on Hwy 40 from parish R-1 to village A-1 for continued housing development.
Library Board of Control leadership fight
A 9-4 vote kept Chuck Branton as library board chair over Col. Jason Trew after an hour of dueling public comment over book policies, censorship claims, board governance and temperament.
Helenbirg tract street dedications
Resident Jack Vincent warned the parish is revoking dedicated street right-of-way from a 1909-1910 subdivision while the area suffers drainage and traffic problems; Laughlin promised a full provenance report by his July district meeting.