The St. Bernard Parish Council meets 7 p.m. tonight , largely for money either owed to FEMA under National Flood Insurance Program penalties or for capital improvement projects that either went over budget or that FEMA deobligated. The council tonight that would help fund a larger DMV office with more staff members, which is expected to decrease wait times....
The St. Bernard Parish Council meets 7 p.m. tonight to decide on a $15 million bond, largely for money either owed to FEMA under National Flood Insurance Program penalties or for capital improvement projects that either went over budget or that FEMA deobligated. The council tonight also is expected to approve an extra dollar service fee at the local Office of Motor Vehicle that would help fund a larger DMV office with more staff members, which is expected to decrease wait times.
A representative from bond counsel Foley & Judell, LLP, of New Orleans, is expected to attend the meeting tonight at Council Chambers, 8201 W. Judge Perez Dr. in Chalmette, to further describe the proposed bond's schedule. The proposal is for a 20-year bond that could have at most 6 percent interest, which would be $900,000 a year, but it's anticipated interest likely would be closer to 4 percent, or $600,000 annually, according to the proposed debt service schedule.
The deadline to submit the request to the State Bond Commission for approval is April 19, with the Parish Council then expected to adopt the bond ordinance in mid May and receive the bonds by June 21. The parish also likely will refinance a 2004 bond for water and sewage to bring in $150,000 a year to help with those payments.
The exact amount owed to FEMA still is being determined, according to Parish Council President Guy McInnis and Parish President Dave Peralta, so it could be that the full $15 million will not be needed. In December, the previous Parish Council gave preliminary approval for a $10 million bond, but the current resolution would replace it.
The council, at the administration's request, is asking for the $15 million instead, in case more is needed than originally anticipated.
In terms of the motor vehicle office fees, they would go toward expanding the current Chalmette location at 1914 E. Judge Perez Dr. to increase counter space and add an additional bathroom, or to move into a larger square-foot building. There already is a $2 service fee to pay for the parish's rent, insurance and clean-up costs -- the main pieces that the parish is responsible for, with the state paying to run and staff the office.
The parish collected about $47,000 last year from the $2 fee and it's anticipated with the extra dollar added that the parish would garner about $65,000 a year. The rent for the current facility is about $1,800, according to Peralta, with anticipated rent for a larger facility coming in at about $4,300 a month, not including additional insurance and clean-up costs.