Baton Rouge Faces Budget Crunch, Even with Proposed Tax Plan on the Table
All city-parish departments have been directed to prepare reduced budget scenarios — 6% and 12%, respectively — regardless of whether the tax initiative, known as the "Thrive! Baton Rouge" plan, passes this November.
BATON ROUGE — Despite a proposed tax rededication plan aimed at boosting city revenue, Mayor-President Sid Edwards is warning of potential deep cuts across East Baton Rouge Parish's government in 2026. All city-parish departments have been directed to prepare reduced budget scenarios — 6% and 12%, respectively — regardless of whether the tax initiative, known as the "Thrive! Baton Rouge" plan, passes this November.
City officials estimate that between $18 million and $21 million will need to be trimmed from the general fund next year, marking the second consecutive year of significant reductions. In 2024, the parish slashed $33 million from its general fund, largely due to lost sales tax revenue following the incorporation of St. George.
“Thrive!” Tax Plan Could Lessen the Blow
Voters will weigh in on the Thrive! plan just days after the mayor’s office submits its 2026 budget to the Metro Council. The plan, if passed, would generate an estimated $27 million annually in new revenue. Still, the administration is preparing for the possibility that voters might reject the proposal.
“If Thrive! Baton Rouge is unsuccessful, the administration will take the necessary measures in the first quarter of 2026 to ensure fiscal responsibility, which may require deeper reductions within the general fund,” said Falon Brown, the mayor’s spokesperson.
The administration is using a zero-based budgeting strategy, requiring each department to justify all expenses from the ground up, rather than relying on last year’s figures.
Constitutional Offices Sound the Alarm
Funding for constitutional offices like the District Attorney, Public Defender, and Coroner continues to be a flashpoint. The East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s Office is already operating with a $1 million deficit and warns that further cuts could cripple operations.
“Any reduction would effectively defund the DA’s Office at a time when it desperately needs support just to remain functional,” said Jon Daily, chief accountant for DA Hillar Moore’s office. The department has already lost 20% of its prosecutors over the past year, with caseloads increasing and staff burnout becoming a concern.
Council Member: Public Safety Is on the Line
District 12 Council Member Jennifer Racca said she anticipates cuts are inevitable, but her focus is on protecting offices that provide essential public safety services.
“If ‘Thrive!’ does not pass, deeper cuts will occur and public safety will be unavoidably impacted,” Racca said.
Racca, an attorney and vocal advocate for constitutional offices, previously cited a 2022 court opinion labeling such offices as “mandated expenditures not subject to reduction.” Still, without new revenue streams, even these critical departments may face the budget knife.
Incorporated Cities Add to Budget Tensions
Tensions have also resurfaced over the role of Baton Rouge’s incorporated cities — Baker, Central, Zachary, and St. George — in funding parishwide services. While residents in these areas still rely on services like the DA’s Office and public defense, the municipalities no longer contribute sales tax revenue to the parish, exacerbating the strain on the general fund.
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Mayor-President Edwards is set to submit his 2026 budget by November 5. Voters will then decide on the "Thrive!" tax plan on November 15. If the initiative passes, budget amendments could follow. If it fails, departments across the board should prepare for the worst.
