SHREVEPORT, La. - Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux gives his annual report card during his "State of the City " address.
Arceneaux says the city is in good financial shape with an operating reserve of $29 million. That's despite sales tax revenue declining for most of 2024, and the end of millions in funds from the American Rescue Plan.
The mayor also pointed to improvements in fighting crime that included a major drop in the number of homicides.
While property standards enforcement increased, the mayor feels there's still much work to do.
"Last year, we demolished 229 houses. What we now need to work on is, how do we replace that housing stock? How do we reinvigorate older neighborhoods? How do we entice people to move from the outskirts, or from even outside of Shreveport, into the inner city?" asked Arceneaux.
You can watch the mayor's address Saturday at 6 p.m. on KPXJ.