Wastelands

2019 is an election year in Louisiana.  There are a lot of places in this state that are struggling.

But Purpera’s auditors are seeing a steep uptick of smaller communities finding themselves simply unable to raise enough money to pay the bills. The only way to balance budgets are to raise revenues or cut services — options local officials are loathe to do especially in small, low-income communities where everybody knows your name. “We’re in for some hard times,” Purpera said.

Jeanerette and St. Joseph already have fiscal administrators. Before last week’s meeting was through the committee voted to ask courts to appoint administrators for Clarence and Clayton. Bogalusa and Sterlington are on the agenda for February. Clinton and Melville could soon be put on the list.

The larger context in state politics, though, is a debate between conservative legislators who continually complain that the state has a "spending problem" and a governor who will be running on the premise that he has restored "fiscal responsibility."  Will anyone directly address the thousand little crises happening in our towns and cities?  Or will that not fit conveniently enough into anybody's campaign narrative?