St. Tammany News

Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price said he is prepared to have another financially successful year in 2008.

"Financially, we probably had the best year that we've ever had, collecting about $2 or $3 million in sales taxes," he said, referring to 2007. "We've done about $7 million worth of public work improvements. Our police continue to show strenghth in the community. I feel that community members really feel safe."

With the increase in tax revenue, the city raised the salaries of city employees by 5 percent, improving local law enforcement wages to a minimum of $32,000 per year. He also said the city managed to have its bond rating raised to a positive Aa3 rating.

"We are the only city in the state, underline only, that has a Aa3 rating. All in all we had a great 2007, and we're looking for the same in 2008," Price said.

His plans for the upcoming year include installing the pipeline for the sewer treatment plant, completing the U.S. Highway 190 expansion project, starting phase one of the lakefront project with the installation of new trees, and rebuilding the harbor pavilion near the yacht club.

According to Price, the U.S. 190 project may never be fully complete.

"Highway 190 will become sufficient enough for us, but when they finish, it's not finished because they still have to widen bridges and make improvements to certain shopping centers," he said.

Price is also looking forward to working with the newly elected officials.

"Stateside is going to be very good because we have some good guys that got elected in the state Legislature. They know what our needs are, and they know that we pursue grants and that they are a staple to our economy," he said.