NEW ORLEANS - At its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, November 29th the New Orleans City Council will consider adoption of the City's 2019 Operating and Capital Budgets to conclude the annual budget review process. The process began when Mayor LaToya Cantrell appeared before the City Council on November 1st to present a proposed $698.1 million annual operating budget from the City's general fund.

Under the leadership of District "D" Councilmember and Budget Committee Chair Jared C. Brossett, the Council had an efficient and rigorous budget review process with hearings of interest to the Council and the public. In total, the Council held six days of hearings on the proposed 2019 Budget beginning Friday, November 9 through Friday, November 16, 2018, in the Council Chamber to learn the needs of each department and listen to residents' concerns.

Since the conclusion of this year's budget hearings, Councilmember Brossett has lead a negotiation process between his colleagues and the Mayor's Administration to ensure critical initiatives are funded through a set of proposed amendments. Some of those initiatives include:

• Capital and infrastructure projects to improve drainage, roads, and public buildings;
• Early childhood education and STEM programs;
• Increased overall funding for Criminal District Court;
• Evening Reporting Center for youth offenders;
• Crisis management for youth;
• New Orleans Adult Learning Center;
• Orleans Public Defenders;
• Assisted Outpatient Treatment;
• Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program compliance; and
• Phase 2 of the pay raises for City employees.

"I strongly believe that we must build public confidence in the administration of taxpayer dollars," said Councilmember Brossett. "We can do this by investing in core government functions, such as public safety, infrastructure upgrades, and economic development. However, we also must invest in people. The residents of New Orleans deserve effective, efficient, and sustainable government services and programs that will improve their quality of life. I believe the Mayor's proposed budget combined with the Council's amendments will achieve this balance."

The following budget ordinances will be considered on Thursday:

• Revenue Ordinance
• Expenditure Ordinance
• Capital Budget Ordinance
• Special District Fee Ordinance
• Enterprise Funds Ordinance

For more information, or to view the meeting agenda, visit nola.council.gov.

###

Contact:

Domonique Dickerson

Chief of Staff

Councilmember Jared C. Brossett, District "D"

504-658-1040

dcdickerson@nola.gov