Calcasieu Parish police jurors on Thursday reflected on the life and public service of District 2 Police Juror James Mayo, who died Dec. 12.

Mayo, 52, apparently died in his sleep, according to a Police Jury news release. He was elected in 2011 to his first term as a police juror and later served as the panel’s vice president and as chairman of the Public Works Committee.

Mayo was an administrative assistant in the Lake Charles mayor’s office and was an assistant director for the Lake Charles Civic Center.

District 3 Police Juror Elizabeth Griffin, a friend of Mayo’s, said he had wisdom and vision. She said he took care of his family and helped organize events with other police jurors, including his friend, District 4 Police Juror Tony Guillory.

Police Jury President Dennis Scott said that while Mayo “wasn’t swayed by passion,” he lived by it. He said Mayo was unlike most freshmen police jurors in that he didn’t need “a learning curve.”

“James just kind of stepped right in … and knew what he was doing,” Scott said.

District 14 Police Juror Hal McMillin said he appreciated Mayo’s ability to hear both sides of an issue. “He never knee-jerked,” he said. “He was always wanting to do the right thing, a true public servant.”

District 9 Police Juror Kevin Guidry said Mayo “always had a heart for people in wanting to help.”

“I hope that we can continue to do what we do in memory of what he wanted to do,” Guidry said.

District 5 Police Juror Nic Hunter, also elected to his first term in 2011, said Mayo was a peacekeeper and a bridge builder. “We lost a family member last week,” he said. “That’s just the way I look at this jury.”

After the remarks, the panel agreed to hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to appoint someone to the District 2 seat. State law requires the Police Jury to fill a vacated seat within 20 days.

Budget

The panel approved its $175.7 million budget for 2015. The spending plan is 18 percent more than the $148.8 million in the current budget.

Most of the spending increases come from projects to improve roads and bridges, parish courthouse facilities and parks. Parish Administrator Bryan Beam told the panel last month that the budget was set up to get ready “for the growth we’re already experiencing.”

The new budget calls for $69.5 million in capital expenditures, with $38.1 million being spent to maintain roads and replace 11 bridges. An additional $24 million will be used to address parish courthouse complex and correctional center needs, along with planning and design for the Family and Juvenile Court facility and the complex’s parking garage.

The budget includes $82.6 million in operating expenses, with a 3 percent wage plan adjustment for employees. The parish plans to hire 15 full-time workers and seven part-timers. On the revenue side, the budget report indicates that sales tax revenues could increase by 10 percent next year. Property taxes could rise by 5.5 percent in 2015 over this year.(MGNonline)