SHREVEPORT, La. — There are no pay raises. No new garbage trucks. No quick fixes.

That’s what Shreveport's proposed 2026 budget is missing and it's just the tip of the iceberg. Chief Administrative Officer Tom Dark shared Shreveport's proposed $707 million budget to keep city services running but admits it leaves little room to grow.

“The numbers really aren’t all that complicated,” Dark told the City Council on Tuesday. “The challenge is finding ways to meet needs that aren’t one-time issues but long-term recurring ones.”

The proposal represents a 3.4% increase over 2025 and includes $1.1 billion in capital projects, most of them carry-overs nearing completion. Only about $34 million in new work is planned, mostly for airports, SporTran and street improvements.

Dark said the gene

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