(The Center Square) — The Bossier City Council approved the Five Year Capital Projects Plan for 2025-2029 in this week’s meeting.
While the motion does not approve the actual funding, it does approve the overall plan presented to the state to receive funding for specific projects, one council member noted. This process is required annually by the Bossier City Charter and includes master plans from different departments like engineering, parks and recreation, and public works.
According to the project plan, funding can come from various sources such as federal and state grants, local funds (sales tax revenues, hotel occupancy tax revenues, and water and sewer operating revenues), and revenue bonds. The plan gives a detailed overview of the next five years and potential projects the city can expect for consideration.
For the 2025 year, the project plan outlines nearly $9 million for transportation improvements, $350,000 for engineering projects, $500,000 for public works, $1.4 million for parks and recreation, $500,000 for building maintenance, roughly $7.2 million for water, and $3.7 million for sewer totaling a little over $23 million.
A big project worth noting is a multipurpose indoor sports venue, estimated at $20 million beginning in 2026 through 2029. Another engineering project includes the Council on Aging building, totaling $4 million between 2025 and 2026.
Other projects detailed are street and drainage repairs estimated at $1 million, parks and recreation improvement projects totaling nearly $25 million, building maintenance estimating $2.9 million, and drinking water and sewer improvement plans.
The council introduced other ordinances on Tuesday, including appropriating $2.5 million from the 2025 Emergency Medical Services Capital Fund to build a vehicle maintenance building garage for the Bossier City Fire Department.
The council carried a motion that authorizes the mayor to renew the cooperative endeavor agreement. This allows proceeds from the hotel occupancy tax to be used for the maintenance and operation of the Bossier City Civic Center, riverfront development, and downtown development.
The council said this does not make any changes but renews a longstanding agreement that has been in place for around 30 to 40 years.
An introduction of an ordinance to appropriate remaining funds from the 2018 LCDA Bond Fund was approved. This ordinance detailed $595,816 in funds to construct a shoot house and other improvements at the shooting range.
Other items discussed were a 5% increase in sales tax revenue since January of last year and an increase in the general fund spending from a $4.5 million transfer to water capital for the South Bossier Water Booster Pump Project Station in January.
