December 10, 2025 | SMP Council Meeting : The Recap 

THE OBSERVATIONAL ANGLE

Conflict #1: The 2026 Budget & The $500k Cut

The Friction: The adoption of the 2026 Combined Budgets became a battleground over two specific line items: restoring funding for the Community Action Agency and removing a half-million-dollar allocation from a specific sales tax fund .

The Mechanics of the Argument:

• Viewpoint A (The Amendments – Hill & Finance Committee):
  • The Logic: The Committee recommended restoring Community Action to 100% funding. regarding the $500,000 tax fund allocation, Mr. Hill argued the current plan “don’t make good sense” and the Administration should seek grants rather than using tax funds immediately.
• Viewpoint B (The Pushback – Jones & Olander):
  • The Logic: Mr. Olander argued against 100% funding for one agency while others faced 25% cuts. President Jones strongly opposed removing the $500,000, stating the money was intended to fix water lines for residents struggling to “flush their toilets”.
  • The Concern: Jones warned that cutting the allocation would directly hurt residents, telling Hill to “go explain it to the people”.

The Result: The amendments (Restoring Community Action / Removing $500k) Carried 7-4. The final Amended Budget was then Adopted 8-3.

Conflict #2: Rec District 5 Funding & Executive Authority

The Friction: A seemingly minor request for $5,000 for equipment upgrades at the West St. Mary Civic Center escalated into a shouting match regarding the “bankruptcy” history of the Parish and the balance of power between the Council and the President .

The Mechanics of the Argument:

• Viewpoint A (The Proposal – Rev. Mathews):
  • The Logic: Mathews argued the Council has the authority to allocate the funds and accused President Jones of running a “dictatorship” by “picking and choosing” projects based on personal preference.
  • The Counter-Narrative: Mathews aggressively refuted Jones’ claims of past financial ruin, shouting, “You’re lying if you want the public to believe that this parish has been bankrupt… It’s in the books”.
• Viewpoint B (The Pushback – President Jones):
  • The Logic: Jones refused to support the immediate allocation, citing caution due to the fiscal year not being over and the need to recover from the 2023 “bankruptcy” where nonexistent money was spent.
  • The History: Jones claimed personal credit for finding money for the Hwy 90 intersection project and criticized Mathews for “insulting” the Governor at a past ribbon-cutting.

The Result: The motion for the allocation Carried by Voice Vote despite the Administration’s objection. The argument was only halted when Chairwoman Hidalgo intervened to announce her resignation due to the fighting.