The Shreveport City Council voted on Tuesday to delay two key budget measures that would have re‑allocated money within the city’s Solid Waste Enterprise Fund and Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund. Council members said the postponements are necessary until the city can address low wages and retention challenges faced by commercial‑driver license (CDL) operators who collect trash and maintain water infrastructure.
Solid Waste Enterprise Fund amendment put on hold
Ordinance 80 would have adjusted the 2026 Solid Waste Enterprise Fund by earmarking $1.75 million for contractual services and $300,000 for materials and supplies. The proposal also called for a $300,000 cut to personal services, a $150,000 reduction in projected interest income, and an expected $1.9 million increase in external service charges to balance the changes.
City administration asked the council to delay the ordinance so staff could re‑work the numbers after discussions at Monday’s administrative conference. Councilman James Green used the opportunity to press for a permanent fix to driver compensation, noting that Shreveport’s CDL drivers are paid $25‑$30 per hour, below the regional market rate.
“I’m not saying go up to $30 an hour, but we at least need to get up to $25 because if not, we’re going to have this same problem with the Band‑Aid,” Green said, referencing a 2019 ordinance that originally set solid‑waste pay standards. He warned that without a lasting solution, the city will face recurring budget patches each season.
Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund amendment also delayed
In a separate vote, the council unanimously postponed Ordinance 81, which would have altered the 2026 Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund. The measure proposed cutting $1.6 million from personal services while moving $1 million to operating reserves, $400,000 to materials and supplies, and $200,000 to contractual services.
Councilman Grayson Boucher supported the delay, pointing out that the enterprise fund is already in deficit and that the city must eventually revisit trash‑pickup fees to protect residents on fixed incomes. He also highlighted wage disparities for CDL drivers and field workers in the water and sewer department.
“I think there are too many unanswered questions,” Boucher said. “I understand we need money for supplies, but let’s discuss this in the infrastructure meeting because they are important. We really need to make sure we get their pay up too.”
Leadership backs a citywide pay review
Council Chairwoman Tabatha Taylor agreed, noting that council leadership has previously pushed to raise CDL wages and that any lasting policy must apply citywide. Both ordinances are slated for detailed consideration at the council’s infrastructure committee meeting on September 8.
The postponements reflect a broader concern among Shreveport officials that short‑term budget fixes do not address the underlying labor market challenges. By delaying the measures, the council hopes to craft a more sustainable compensation structure that supports essential public‑service workers while preserving fiscal stability for the city’s residents.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
