As the combined government for the city of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish faces another budget deficit , it is planning hundreds of layoffs and steep budget cuts. But, while city-parish leaders look inward, some are also looking outward, saying the parish’s other cities aren’t paying their fair share.

The issue is particularly intense when it comes to parts of the parish’s criminal justice system that are mandated by the state constitution. The coroner, courts, district attorney and parish prison all serve the whole parish, yet Baker, Central, St. George and Zachary don’t contribute any of their tax revenue to support them.

As the once-consolidated city government increasingly splinters into individual cities, some think that needs to change.

“It sounds to me what we’re d

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