Bills filed could restructure BREC's leadership, transfer control to city-parish
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Two bills filed for the upcoming Louisiana legislative session could bring significant changes to the operations of BREC, the agency that manages parks and recreational facilities in East Baton Rouge Parish.
The bills, House Bill 86 and House Bill 87, were both filed by State Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge, on Thursday, March 20. The 2025 legislative session is set to convene on Monday, April 14.
Under HB 86, the number of BREC commission members would be reduced from nine to five.
Currently, the commission consists of nine members, including:
Six appointed members chosen by the Metro Council.
Three ex officio members: the mayor-president or a designee, an East Baton Rouge Parish school board member, and a planning commission member.
The proposed bill would replace the current structure with a commission made up of the mayors of the following municipalities:
Baker
Baton Rouge
Central
St. George
Zachary
If passed, this change would terminate the terms of all current commissioners and replace them with the mayors of the specified municipalities. Three members would constitute a quorum, making decisions easier to reach with fewer participants.
The second bill, HB 87, would repeal all existing statutes governing BREC, effectively eliminating the agency as an independent political subdivision of the state. Instead, the bill would transfer all obligations, property, records, and employees of BREC to the city-parish government.
If enacted, this would place BREC under the direct control of the city-parish, rather than as a separate entity created under the Louisiana Disaster Act of the 1940s.
BREC has operated independently for decades, managing recreational and park facilities as a political subdivision of the state. Proponents of the bills argue that greater local control and oversight could lead to more efficient operations.
However, opponents may raise concerns about politicizing the agency's leadership and potentially impacting BREC's ability to maintain its award-winning parks and programs.
The push for restructuring BREC's leadership and transferring control to the city-parish government comes just weeks after a 2022 audit revealed significant financial and operational concerns within the agency.
The audit found:
Payroll errors: Three employees were paid twice for their final termination payments, resulting in overpayments totaling approximately $42,000.
Untimely reconciliations: The agency failed to reconcile bank accounts, payroll benefit liabilities, and inventory accounts in a timely manner, increasing the risk of financial mismanagement.
Equipment theft: Multiple instances of theft totaling approximately $29,000 were reported, including stolen catalytic converters, power tools, and electronic equipment from various BREC facilities.
BREC management responded to the findings by hiring additional accounting staff and improving financial oversight. The agency also said it is reviewing internal controls and enhancing security measures to prevent further thefts.
While the audit is not mentioned in the two bills, the findings could play a role in shaping legislative conversations as the proposed bills move through the 2025 session.
Louisiana First News has reached out to BREC for comment.
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