Union Parish should reconsiderhow it governs

STAFF REPORT editor@fgazette.com

Part One of Three

Union Parish should begin the process of replacing its police jury with a parish president and council under a locally written home rule charter. The amount of public money moving through this small parish warrants a government organized around clear executive responsibility and effective public oversight.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Union Parish had 20,561 residents in July 2025. A preliminary compilation of governmental financial reports identified approximately $107.89 million in reported annual revenues across the entities examined. Adding the two public charter-school operators brings that subtotal to approximately $129.87 million.

The Police Jury itself reported about $20.45 million. The larger total includes separate organizations, among them the School Board, municipalities, sheriff, and hospital districts. It includes grants, service charges, and hospital receipts as well as taxes. It is not all money controlled by the Police Jury, and it is not a measure of the taxes paid by local residents.