In a letter issued to residents this week, Natchitoches Parish President John Salter addressed growing economic challenges following the closure of International Paper and a significant increase in inmate housing costs. Salter assured the public that despite financial pressure, the parish government is taking proactive steps to protect essential services without raising the burden on taxpayers. Chief among those measures is a major shift in solid waste management, with the parish set to take over trash collection and disposal operations beginning July 1, 2025.
According to Salter, the transition to an in-house trash system is designed to save taxpayer dollars, preserve public services, and redirect cost savings to parish infrastructure—especially roads. The move comes as the parish faces a doubling of pretrial inmate housing expenses due to a contract between the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff and Lasalle Corrections. Equipment purchases and staff training are already underway to ensure a smooth transition, and Salter emphasized that there will be no disruption to residents’ current trash pickup schedules. He encouraged citizens to reach out with any questions or attend upcoming Parish Council meetings to stay informed.
