Mayor-President Sid Edwards released a proposal Feb. 6 to boost police salaries using funds from the parish library system, an idea that has since received considerable community pushback.
The proposal, which would move existing library system dedicated funds into the city-parish’s general fund, would raise police pay between 15-41% and fund “other critical needs such as public safety, infrastructure and economic development.”
At a Metropolitan Council meeting Feb. 12, community members showed up in droves to speak out against the proposal, with Council members unable to reach a decision on the Library’s funds before the end of the meeting.
Edwards sat down with the Reveille to discuss the proposal, explaining it as necessary given the city-parish’s finances, which include a $52 million deficit that has been exacerbated by the creation of the city of St. George.
In December, St. George approved a $48 million yearly transfer from East Baton Rouge Parish to St. George’s city government, a decision Edwards said has left the city-parish looking fiscally for “a way to close [the] gap.” This led him to the parish’s well-funded Library, an organization he has referred to as “rockstars.”
“I am committed to making our Library the best-funded library system in the state of Louisiana to continue that, and I believe in them,” Edwards said, calling them part of his family, but explaining there are also other issues that need his attention.
He acknowledged the proposal came across as if he was putting the Library and BRPD against each other, but this he says is not the case.
“Can I do it all? Can I tend to all those things that are broke, and still keep the Library in outstanding position?” Edwards asked himself when examining the budget. “And after my study I saw that absolutely we can, that’s when we came up with [the proposal].”
Edwards emphasized he is asking the people of Baton Rouge to decide how the money will be spent, and that he is “still going to fund the Library better than any other library system in the state of Louisiana.”
Since the Metro Council couldn’t immediately reach a resolution, Edwards said he will continue to work with them and the Library to find a way forward.
“I’m not a politician, I’m a unifier,” Edwards said, “and I’m a peacekeeper, and all I’m doing is I’m looking out for everybody.”
Though Edward’s proposal is still up in the air, he says he is intent on keeping the Library in a position of strength.
“The last thing I want to do is hurt our Library, because they’re outstanding,” he said. “In my plan, I believe from the bottom of my heart, I can keep our library system outstanding just as it is while fixing the other things that are broke.”
