Representative Charlene Ventrella filed House Bill 649 to transfer parks in the city of Central from the East Baton Rouge Parish Recreation and Park Commission (BREC) to a newly created Central parks board and remove Central from BREC's taxing district.

Ventrella opened her presentation by calling the measure a response to the community referendum and local complaints about maintenance, and arguing the change would reduce taxes. "The people in my district voted 68% no in Central," she said, adding that Central currently represents "2.76% of BREC's budget." She described the Central proposal as creating an elected, locally accountable board and lowering the millage rate for Central residents.

The bill drew extended questioning from committee members about service levels, workforce impacts and the fiscal effect on both Central and BREC. Opponents, including Representative Marcel and others from the committee, warned splitting the parish-wide park agency could reduce BREC's capacity to maintain parks elsewhere in the parish and noted substantial capital and operating investments already made in Central.

Mayor Wade Evans of Central told the committee the city runs with a small staff and contracts for most services. "Central operates a government that only has 5 employees," Evans said, adding that the city uses private contractors to provide services and argued Central could operate parks more efficiently. He described prior capital investments and said Central had studied operations and could run parks on a smaller budget.

Duane Rogers, a current BREC commissioner who identified himself as the commission's former treasurer, said he had pressed for more financial transparency at BREC and that he had encountered difficulty getting detailed records. "I started questioning some things and and couldn't get the information," Rogers told the committee, saying he supported local control where residents can hold elected officials accountable.

BREC Superintendent Corey Wilson answered committee questions about the agency's finances and operations. "Our budget just for round numbers is about a hundred million dollars," Wilson said, and he told lawmakers that roughly 40% of BREC's budget goes to personnel costs; he cautioned that removing Central could require reworking budgets and projects. Wilson also noted the agency's recent awards and a 10-year master plan that was supported by voters in 2023.

Committee debate centered on whether Central's proposed board would duplicate services or simply return local control to residents who voted against the parishwide millage in the city. Ventrella and several Central officials and council members argued the move would increase accountability and allow Central to contract for services in a way that reduces millage. Opponents said the change could reduce economies of scale and make it harder for BREC to fund parks in under-resourced neighborhoods.

After the discussion Representative Farnham moved to report the bill favorably. Representative Marcel objected and the committee took a roll-call vote. The committee recorded 10 votes in favor and 5 opposed; the motion carried and HB 649 was reported to the House floor.

Questions remain about operational details and workforce impacts. Witnesses at the hearing said Central projects that current BREC revenue attributable to Central is approximately $3,500,000; under the bill Central's new taxing authority would be structured to bring in roughly $2,900,000 initially, with Central officials saying they believe they can operate for considerably less. Several committee members asked for more documentation and transition details; supporters said they had prepared cost estimates and community correspondence but opponents said the record provided to BREC commissioners had been limited.

The committee action moves the proposal to the full House. The bill, if carried and enacted as drafted, would change geographic taxing boundaries and transfer park assets and taxing authority as described in the text introduced to the committee. The transcript records that committee members debated legal and budgetary implications but did not identify any final agreement on implementation timetables beyond statements that dates in the bill could be amended to avoid disrupting summer programs.

Votes at committee: motion to report HB 649 favorably moved by Representative Farnham; objection recorded by Representative Marcel; recorded tally 10 yes, 5 no; motion carried and bill sent to the House floor.