The City’s operating budget for 2024-25 will be $88,194,635. A breakdown of the total is: •General Fund: $19,866,611 •Proprietary/Utility Fund: $42,447,183 •Special Funds: $25,880,841 Total: $88,194,635 The General Fund operates on revenue from five sources: •Property taxes $6.3 million •Licenses and permits $912,200 •Intergovernmental/Revenue $1.341,780 •Fees, charges, commissions etc., $1.8 million •Transfers from other funds $9.4 million Departments that are funded by the General Fund include City Hall/finance, Community Development, Planning & Zoning, fire and police departments, animal shelter, purchasing, city garage, recreation, public works, indirect expense and program and promotions.

The City of Natchitoches launched its lead service line inventory project and will host a series of meetings to field questions from the community. The City was awarded a grant through the Louisiana Department of Health to determine whether lead materials exist at each home in the City by assessing the water meters and water service line connections in the yard.

The Senate Finance Committee voted 4-3 Thursday to pass an amended version of the education savings account program backed by Gov. Jeff Landry, slowing down its implementation and possibly setting the stage for it to be smaller than originally envisioned.

On Wednesday Gov. Jeff Landry held a bill signing in his office. He signed Sen. Cleo Fields bill, SB 255. This bill creates a second majority-black Supreme Court seat in Louisiana, “Today, we fulfilled our responsibility and ensured the people of Louisiana will have a fair, democratic, and equally representative judiciary. I appreciate Sen. Cleo Fields, Attorney General Liz Murrill, the Supreme Court justices, US Rep. Mike Johnson and the members of the Black Caucus for their hard work on this bill,” Landry said.

Have you gotten your Jazz Festival tickets yet? It’s a great opportunity for area music lovers to hear some headliners and groups we might not ever get the chance to hear. A special thanks goes to all those who have worked so hard on this year’s event, and to those groups and individuals who have committed to performing.

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An online phlebotomy technician training class will be offered by Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic and Continuing Education in Alexandria beginning June 24 in Room 164 of NSU’s Cenla campus at 1410 Neel Kirby Blvd. The deadline to register is June 19.

Spectacular is what organizers are calling the Natchitoches 27th Annual Jazz/R&B Festival set to held on the downtown Natchitoches Riverbank on May 10-11. Headlining on Saturday night and closing out the festival will be Country music superstar and Army Reserve soldier Craig Morgan.

Northwestern State University Professor of Bassoon and Director of Orchestral Activities Douglas Bakenhus will perform with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra Woodwinds on Sunday, May 5 at 3 p.m. at the LSUS Theater Auditorium.