Bossier City approves 2027 budget; sewer hikes remain proposed

The Bossier City Council approved its 2027 budget on Nov. 3, 2026, after a public hearing. The plan assumes additional sewer revenue from proposed rate increases, but the budget vote did not enact those changes. They require separate council action, the Bossier Press-Tribune reported.

The city Finance Department’s online 2027 budget document is labeled a draft. It lists $320,156,784 in proposed expenditures, including consolidated sales-tax collections administered for other taxing authorities. The Press-Tribune reported the approved budget at about $320.1 million and the net operating budget after distributions at about $232.4 million. Those totals describe different measures: the larger figure includes collections distributed to other taxing authorities; the net figure is after those distributions.

The Press-Tribune reported that public safety accounts for roughly two-thirds of General Fund spending, with projected expenditures rising 3.71%. General Government makes up about 27% of the fund, with a projected increase of 1.38%.

The draft projects a year-end General Fund balance of $65,901,327 and sets the required reserve at 25% of budgeted expenditures. The stated $20,977,343 minimum leaves the projected balance about $44.9 million above that threshold. At the hearing, resident Jeffrey Sadow praised the city’s financial planning and urged officials to maintain a strong reserve.

What the proposed sewer rates could mean for bills i

The sewer budget assumes about $3.3 million in additional customer revenue, or 20.6%, from proposed rate changes: a 16% increase in the monthly base charge and a 29% increase in the charge for each 1,000 gallons used. These increases apply to separate parts of a bill; they should not be added to suggest every customer’s total bill would rise by 45%.

For a household using 5,000 gallons a month, an EisnerAmper rate study estimated an increase of about $100 a year, or roughly $8.33 a month. That is a study estimate, not a guaranteed bill change. Sewer customers would pay more only if the council separately approves the proposed rates.