Cost of tornado and flood response expected to be $2 million Play Video

Posted: Nov 4, 2009 4:53 PM
Updated: Nov 4, 2009 6:00 PM

 State and local response to tornadoes and flooding in Bossier City and Bossier Parish this past week will cost an estimated $2 million, the head of Caddo-Bossier homeland security said today.

  "The state at this point in time is probably about $1 million into this event. We figure, locally, we're close to that," homeland security's Sandy Davis said today.

 The price tag is not enough to qualify for federal assistance, Davis said, but the state will reimburse each agency using money from a tax-amnesty program. Under that program, people who owed the state could pay their taxes without interest and penalties.

 Bossier City is currently dealing with a $6.5 million budget deficit but has money in a fund set aside for emergencies. It could pay for any expenses that are not reimbursed.

 Law enforcement and firefighters, along with public works and utilities crews, have been out in force along with the military.

  Government has also had some free labor: 175 inmates picked from the city and parish jails who have filled tens of thousands of sandbags.

  The parish prisoners will not be given time off their sentences in return for working. City inmates haven't been promised anything, although a judge will consider reducing their sentences once their work is done, Police Chief Mike Halphen said.

  "We asked them to help. There's not a one of them who was not willing to do it," sheriff's Lt. Ed Baswell said of the inmates.

  Bossier City police officers and firefighters responded to the tornado and flooding at a time when 60 of them with the least seniority face possible layoffs. Mayor Lo Walker believes layoffs are the only way to deal with such a large budget deficit.

 "I won't be voting for any budget that has any public safety cut in it," City Councilman David Jones said today.

 The City Council will help determine the extent of layoffs. They must pass a budget by Dec. 1.

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