Can you explain the general fund for the parish? What does money that gets put into this fund get spent on? And who controls the fund? How much input does the public have on the spending from the general fund?

The general fund contains money that by law or necessity doesn’t have to be deposited in specific funds, said Tammy Bufkin, Calcasieu Parish finance director. For example, she said, revenue from dedicated taxes goes into a special revenue fund.

The general fund is used to cover a variety of expenses, including maintenance of parish property, Bufkin said. Among that property, she said, are the office spaces for the clerk of court, tax assessor, voter registrar and the sheriff, along with the Calcasieu Correctional Center.

The fund also covers the medical costs for inmates in the jail, and it’s used to shore up parish departments whose revenue sources prove insufficient for their needs, Bufkin said. Examples, she said, include transfers made to Animal Services, the Office of Planning and Development and the Office of Emergency Preparedness.

“The budgeting process begins when departments assess their needs for the coming year. The administrator reviews the request while assessing the financial resources available to fund these requests,” Bufkin wrote in an email.

“The budget document is prepared and presented to the Budget Committee mid-November. At this point the proposed budget is available for public inspection both on the Internet and at the administrative offices of the Police Jury.

“There is also a public hearing in early December to allow public input. The budget is approved by the Police Jury mid-December.”

According to the Police Jury’s fiscal year 2016 budget, the spending plan was prepared according to the following timeline:

Aug. 28 — Finance department begins making revenue projections.

Sept. 10 — Department and agency heads hold conference to discuss budget.

Sept. 10-Oct. 9 — Department heads prepare individual budgets.

Oct. 9 — Departments turn in budgets.

Oct. 9-Nov. 19 — Administrators review department budgets and prepare parish spending plan.

Nov. 2 — Parish runs public notice in the American Press about availability of budget and about Police Jury’s Dec. 3 budget hearing.

Nov. 19 — Administrators give presentation to Police Jury budget panel.

Nov. 20-Dec. 17 — Budget panel looks over budget.

Dec. 3 — Budget panel holds public hearing.

Dec. 17 — Police Jury adopts budget.

Dec. 21 — Parish runs public notice in the American Press to certify completion of state budgeting requirements.

CPPJ app superfluous with site redesign

What happened to the Eagle app the Calcasieu Parish Policy Jury had on the app store?

“The Eagle app, which was an innovative method of reporting issues for parish residents, was provided by a third party and was not renewed because it will be unnecessary with the launch of the Police Jury’s redesigned website,” reads an email from Parish Administrator Bryan Beam’s office.

“The redesigned site will include a mobile-friendly platform, allowing users to interact with the Police Jury on smartphones and tablets without the need for a third-party app, and will debut in late summer or early fall.”

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Online: www.cppj.net.

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The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.