Budget proposal includes additional 2% fee to demolish blighted property in Shreveport

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – The Shreveport City Council will consider Mayor Tom Arceneaux’s proposed budget for 2026, which includes a 2 percent surcharge on all water bills to fight blight.

The mayor submitted the proposed 2026 operating and capital improvements budgets to the council on Wednesday. In the budget, Mayor Arceneaux is requesting $709.4 million, a 3.7% increase in spending for the city’s operating budget and capital improvements budget, which exceeds $1.1 billion. Of this amount, $34.3 million will be allocated to new projects.

Also included in the budget is a 2% blight surcharge to be tacked onto all water and sewer bills. Funds used from the surcharge would be used to demolish blighted properties in the city. The measure would require approval from the City Council for implementation. The Arceneaux administration believes the fees would raise more than $3 million in 18 months to address vacant apartment complexes and other blighted buildings.

A news release from the mayor’s office identified five areas of the budget as his highest priorities for 2026.

• Working with the Police Department and the public to continue the recent downward trend in major crimes.
• Moving the city’s bond issue-funded projects to construction and completion. This includes projects approved by the voters in both 2021 and 2024.
• Developing comprehensive strategies to deal with blighted areas in our city and for redeveloping areas affected by blight. This process began in 2025 with the Block-By-Block program and will accelerate next.
• Continuing to work to make it easier to do business with the city government.
• Working to grow our local economy and bring economic development opportunities to all parts of the city.
• Being fiscally responsible by maintaining an 8% Operating Reserve in the city’s General Fund.

“Shreveport is moving in the right direction”, Mayor Arceneaux stated today. “We can do great things if we work together. I pledge to work with the City Council and with all our citizens to do just that and to be good stewards of our tax dollars.”

The City Council must be adopted by law on or before December 15, 2025.