In addition to discussing the possible hurdles of the proposed 2009 budget Tuesday evening, the City Council announced the progress of several key initiatives that are going to increase growth in Abbeville and fund public works improvement projects.

Lonnie Broussard presented the proposed budget to the council and highlighted several positive improvements that the City intends to implement in 2009 including the conversion of the old library into a tourist center and the construction of a new police station.

The total amount of revenues from the 2009 Consolidated Budget is

$24,490,000, with $25,480,000 in total expenditures, leaving $990,000 worth of deficiencies, which will then be taken from the net assets, leaving $16.94 million in net assets for the City.

Among the more glamorous of expenditures is the Capital Projects Fund, Broussard explained, which includes converting the old library into a tourist center.

The project has the potential to increase tourism in Abbeville, and is funded by a $166,000 Intergovermental Federal Grant, and $9,000 to be taken from collected sales tax revenues.

The total cost of the project is $175,000, which means the City will only be contributing approximately 0.06 percent of the estimated $1.36 million in capital outlay or sales tax collected for the project.

The Capital Outlay or Sales Tax Fund is estimated at $1.515 million total revenues and is budgeted to pay $1.01 million in Capital Projects Funds including: $90,000 for General government; $50,000 for the Police Department; $85,000 for the Fire Department; $750,000 for Highways and Streets; $25,000 for Culture and Recreation; $10,000 for Debt Service on Capital Leases.

This leaves the budget at a $243,000 excess deficiency of revenues over budget from Operating transfers to Debt Service Funds ($110,000); Operating transfers to Capital Projects Funds ($9,000 - for Tourism Center); and Operating transfers to the Utility Fund ($629,000), and leaves $410,128 in the Capital Outlay fund balance.

These funds will be used upon approval from the council to fund various projects including a possible $300,000 that will be used to pay for the construction of the new police station, if the $300,000 state grant is not approved.

In addition to examining the proposed budget, the City Council convened to renew annual agreements with the Vermilion Parish Police Jury and A.A. Comeaux Youth, as well as passing a resolution to collect sales tax from the Vermilion Parish School Board on behalf of Economic Development District 1. The council also accepted bids for lighting at Theriot Baseball Field and for the leasing of property in the Third Ward District.

Abbeville Police Chief Rick Coleman welcomed a new police officer, Nick Fugutt, to serve in the Abbeville Police Department.

Councilman-at-large Francis Plaisance announced that the Abbeville Main Street cookbook is for sale at the Depot at Magdalen Place, and invited everyone in the parish to attend the one-day Christmas Festival, held in Magdalen Square on Saturday, Dec. 13. The festival is sponsored by the Louisiana Cattle Festival, and will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the Christmas Parade starting at 3 p.m. Plaisance said some 18 vendors have already signed up, and although there will be no alcohol sold, he assured the festival will be a fun event for the whole family. For more information on the one-day Christmas Festival, call 337-652-0646.