St. Tammany Fire Protection District 12 has proposed $9,909,855 in spending for 2027, with higher operating expenses offset in part by a smaller personnel allocation.
The proposal lists $7,752,800 for personnel and $2,157,055 for operating expenses. Fire Chief Terry Stuard attributes much of the operating increase to fuel, maintenance, insurance and dispatch costs.
The district’s financial records show its original approved 2026 budget totaled $9,847,200, including $7,802,880 for personnel and $2,044,320 for operating expenses. Comparing those figures with the proposal yields a $62,655 overall increase, a $50,080 personnel decrease and a $112,735 operating increase.
Those comparisons are against the original 2026 budget, not actual spending or a verified latest amendment. The financials page says recovered records reflect a July 28 website snapshot and exclude records approved or filed afterward.
Stuard’s statement identifies staffing as an ongoing concern. The district has budgeted 62 full time employees and one part time accounting employee.
The proposal remains subject to consideration. A public hearing is set for November 30 at 5 p.m. at district headquarters, 19375 Highway 36 in Covington.
Source documents: the district’s proposed 2027 budget is linked below under Source. Its original approved 2026 budget appears on the financial records page, https://www.fd12.org/financials/.
