The East Baton Rouge Metro Council has approved Mayor-President Sid Edwards' 2026 budget, which makes significant cuts to city-parish departments — including the district attorney, public defender and others — to fill a $15.5 million deficit.

Though council members made a few minor amendments, the budget was passed Tuesday night with no cuts to the Baton Rouge Police Department or the Baton Rouge Fire Department.

To spare those agencies, the mayor brought cuts of at least 11% to nearly every other city-parish department.

Edwards called the budget approval "bittersweet," knowing what is coming next.

"No one feels good with all the cuts we have to do," Edwards said. "It's hard when people are losing jobs or losing services."

Around 200 city-parish workers have been or will be laid o

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