The New Orleans City Council today approved a $1.4 billion spending plan for 2023.
The budget addresses public safety and public health, enhanced technology and equipment, quality of life, infrastructure improvements and expanded youth programming.
"The approval of our $1.4 billion budget validates the vision of a safer, cleaner and more prosperous New Orleans," said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. "Through collaboration with the City Council and listening to the hundreds of residents at our public budget meetings, we were able to produce a budget that is fiscally responsible, equitable and will fund the critical issues that will strengthen our City for generations to come."
"I view this budget as a down payment to address residents’ needs. Most budgets are a conclusion - this budget is just the beginning. We expect that every department and agency show what they are doing for residents," said Councilmember Joe Giarrusso, Budget Committee Chair. "With more money comes more accountability, and the Council will exercise that in three different ways: quarterly check-ins on department funding; prioritizing understandable, accessible, and regular data shared with the public to improve transparency, and; escrowing the second NOPD bonus until this Council ensures the first round of payments is effective."
Included in the budget is $32.5 million in spending aimed at recruiting and retaining New Orleans Police officers. But the administration will be required to show the council how that program is working with a mid-year update due no later than June 1.
"We’re currently moving forward with millions in incentives to retain and recruit NOPD officers, and it’s extremely important that we have this robust check-in phase in a few months to see if these initiatives are actually working," said Council President Helena Moreno, "because the last thing we want or can afford to do is continue to spend money that’s not effective"
The budget also includes $20 million for blight remediation and beautification, as well as combating illegal dumping.
$19.5 million is dedicated to public health programming to help people deal with substance abuse.
$28.5 million is going to infrastructure improvements such as catch basin cleaning, right-of-way maintenance and a new Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans substation.
Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montaño called the budget "one of the most complex I’ve been a part of, but I believe it will be both a model for progressive budgeting in the future that other cities are going to have to embark on coupled with a vital need for transparency of those budgets so we can have that real-time monitoring to ensure the process continues - not just at the beginning and end of the year, but all year round."
