The incoming Moreno administration is also pledging to honor a New Orleans Police Department retention bonus program set up in 2022 that could come up $8 million short, threatening to stiff police officers who stuck with the force.
Louisiana Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack, who is overseeing how the city spends the $125 million it borrowed late last year to cover payroll, says the city can use that money to pay the bonuses.
But he warned it comes with a catch.
"The only drawback is it minimizes your ability in the future to cover remaining payroll," he explained. "If it ends up being $8 million, then it's an unanticipated $8 million spend that you probably didn't realize when we made this loan."
Officers who remained at NOPD for three years after the bonus was authorized are in line for an extra $10,000.


