The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday draped a financial safety blanket over St. Tammany Parish, offering additional federal aid for both parish and municipal governments to fund hurricane recovery needs, including debris removal.

The expanded disaster declaration will save taxpayers parishwide millions, including at least $2 million for debris pickup in unincorporated parts of the parish.

That price tag alone would have sliced the parish budget by 10 percent next year, President Kevin Davis said. “This is great news for us as it will reduce the stress on local tax dollars,” Davis said.

Elsewhere, mayors and city heads parishwide were thrilled when the news trickled through political circles Thursday. The aid will fund 75 percent of funds for debris removal and repair monies for Hurricane Gustav-damaged parks, roads and water systems.

Local governments must foot the remaining 25 percent bill.

“It would have been hard on us if we wouldn’t have got this,” Abita Springs Mayor Louis Fitzmorris said. “I try to keep everything in perspective compared to (Hurricane) Katrina, but for us and our (small town) budget it would have hurt.”

FEMA originally only approved the aid for emergency protective measures such as paid overtime for public works and law enforcement officials. The new monies cover seven areas, including damage to public buildings.

In Mandeville, that allocation will help repair damage to a city lift station and handicap piers by Sunset Point, as well as help fund the city’s $200,000 bill for debris removal, said Milton Stiebing, Mandeville’s finance director.

Debris removal was also a large concern in Abita Springs, where $65,000 worth of debris, or 5,000 yards, needed pickup, Fitzmorris said.

U.S. Congressman Steve Scalise, R-Metairie, said Thursday the need to include St. Tammany in additional aid packages was crucial. He said he spoke with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and FEMA Administrator David Paulison to fight for the inclusion.

“I have been fighting for this with FEMA since the storm hit, and it is very encouraging for St. Tammany to see the Major Disaster declaration amended to include them,” Scalise said. “This will help the entire parish recover.”