A Lafayette Parish mayor is taking fiscal responsibility to a new level, spending thousands of dollars less than other mayors across the parish.

In 2012, the six mayors racked up a total of 45-thousand dollars in expenses. They were reimbursed for things like travel, cell phones, and business meals. City-Parish President Joey Durel spent the most money totaling more than 17-thousand dollars.
Duson Mayor, Johnny Thibodeaux spent just 271 dollars and is still bringing new businesses to his town.

Thibodeaux is taking a unique approach to saving his town money.

With temperatures soaring into the mid-nineties, you wouldn't expect to see the mayor sweating and cutting grass at town hall.

"You're going to succeed in life when you're going to be yourself," said Thibodeaux.

But Thibodeaux has no problem doing it and is even using his own lawn equipment to save the town money.

"To help them out, I gave them my bush hog and my tractor because we just can't keep up."

Thibodeaux is modest and doesn't like comparing his work with his peers in other cities. He says everyone is different.