> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.wbrindependent.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # West Baton Rouge expects to pay $9 million less for LA 415 connector, plus 4 more budget takeaways - URL: https://www.wbrindependent.com/wbr-parish-budget-2027-la-415-connector-takeaways/ - Published: 2026-11-03T15:59:18.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-03T15:59:18.000Z - Description: West Baton Rouge Parish expects to pay millions less toward the LA 415 connector. That plus a $30 million sewer plant, tax rate changes, a 3% insurance bump and a pricier animal control building. - Author: John Summers - Tags: Meeting Coverage West Baton Rouge Parish expects to pay millions less toward the LA 415 connector than it planned a year ago. The parish's 2026 budget set aside about $10.4 million from the general fund as its share of the project. The proposed 2027 budget lists $1.16 million. It was one of the biggest changes parish staff walked the Parish Council through during budget hearings on Oct. 26 and 27\. The council has not adopted the 2027 budget yet. Here are five takeaways. ## 1\. The LA 415 connector "So we got great news from the state," Finance Director Chance Stephens told the council. The connector is meant to take pressure off the Mississippi River Bridge. Parish officials have said the state Department of Transportation and Development expects to break ground in January 2027. The parish had budgeted $7.5 million in cash to cover a funding gap on the project. That money is gone from the new budget. Public Works Director Brandon Bourgoyne said the state sent the parish a new agreement that replaces the old one. Under it, the parish can pay for engineering with credits it earns by taking over some state roads. He put that at about $6 million. That leaves the parish's 20% share of right-of-way, utility and railroad costs, which goes through the Capital Region Planning Commission. The budget lists that share at $1.16 million. The deal isn't final. Bourgoyne said the estimated right-of-way cost is now "substantially higher than five million dollars." He wants the state to confirm in writing that the parish's share is based on the original $5 million figure. The new agreement and a resolution still have to come before the council. ## 2\. The south-end sewer plant now costs about $30 million The estimate for the parish's regional sewer plant on the south end is now $30,268,832, according to the 2027 budget. The 2026 budget listed it at $23.1 million. The plant will replace 10 small, self-contained sewer plants with one. Parish officials said the old estimate was three or four years old and came before any engineering was done. The new number is a construction estimate. The budget pays for it four ways: - A $10 million state grant - An $8 million bond, which costs the general fund about $509,631 a year - $4 million from the parish utilities fund - About $8.27 million from the general fund The Louisiana Department of Health has approved the plans. Officials said the project will go out for bids after the first of the year in two phases: the plant first, then the sewer lines. A similar local project drew 15 to 18 bidders, they said, and they hope the competition brings the price down. ## 3\. What your parish taxes will pay for The parish doesn't always collect the full tax rate voters approved. It can "roll back" a millage and collect less. The 2027 budget changes several of those rates. One mill brings in about $760,000. - **Recreation:** 4.5 mills, up from 4\. The money pays for parks, fields and playgrounds. New playground equipment is the biggest item next year. - **911 and central communications:** the full 3 mills, up from 2\. Stephens said it's the first time in four years the parish has collected the full rate. The budget adds four dispatchers, going from 14 to 18. - **Drainage:** 5.7 of a possible 7.2 mills, down another half mill. - **Health unit:** 1 of a possible 1.75 mills, the same as this year. Voters decide the 1.75-mill renewal today, Nov. 3. - **Community centers:** 2 of a possible 3 mills, the same as this year. - **General fund:** the full 3.52 mills. ## 4\. Employee health insurance goes up 3% Parish employees face a 3% health insurance increase next year. The parish pays its own employees' claims instead of buying a traditional policy. Stephens said that plan has been running at about 88% of expected claims. A separate policy covers very large claims. He said the parish builds in a small increase every year so it doesn't have to hit employees with a big one later. He pointed to the city-parish government in Baton Rouge, which runs the same kind of plan, where he said employees are seeing increases of 20% to 30%. The council will see the open enrollment rates at an upcoming meeting. ## 5\. The new animal control building will cost $1.53 million The parish first set aside $440,000 for a new animal control building. Stephens said that number covered "a slab and metal building." Once an architect drew up full plans, the estimate rose to $1,527,083 from the general fund, according to the 2027 budget. Running three-phase power to the site will add about $20,000 from the parish lighting fund. ## Also in the budget - Parish employees get 5% raises: a 3% cost-of-living increase plus a 2% step increase. - General fund operating costs rise about 2.2%, from $13.15 million to $13.44 million. Stephens said inflation is running about 3.7%. - The parish starts 2027 with about $35.6 million in its general fund. About $15.7 million of that is set aside for grant matches and large projects. - Video poker money pays for road paving again, about $1.23 million next year. A new $300,000 program will treat roads three to five years after they're paved so they last longer. It includes a condition survey of every parish road. --- We sat through the budget hearings so you don’t have to. Sign up free to get West Baton Rouge news straight to your inbox. ## Sign up for WBR Independent Accountability journalism for West Baton Rouge Parish. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.