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NEW ORLEANS, LA - During Week Two of the 2026 budget season, the Council held two 2026 Proposed Budget Hearings on October 20 and October 21, as well as two Budget Committee Meetings.
Day Four
On Day Four of the overall budget season, the Council held a brief Budget, Audit, and Board of Review Committee meeting. During the meeting, the Committee reviewed and recommended Amendment No. 1 to the OpenGov, Inc. Master Services Agreement for approval. This amendment adds $231,000 in funding for an asset management system and extends the contract through June 2027. The Committee also recommended approval of Motion M-25-544, granting the Office of the Inspector General a one-time exemption from the city’s 2025 ban on fossil-fuel vehicles due to infrastructure and safety concerns. Both items appeared on the Consent Agenda for the October 23 Council meeting.
Following the Committee meeting, the Council received presentations from parties within the Mayor’s Office, Homeland Security, and the New Orleans Aviation Board.
Day Five
Day Five saw the Council receive presentations from the New Orleans Health Department and departments related to health, including the Orleans Parish Public Defender’s Office; Parks and Parkways; and the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORD-C).
The Health Department highlighted its 2026 goals, including increasing access to care, improving economic stability, and ensuring community safety. During the presentation, the Council announced that as a result of the Wisner litigation settlement with LSU and Tulane, the City has received approximately $5 million. Following discussions with Mayor LaToya Cantrell, and at her request, both parties decided to put those funds into the General Fund for the New Orleans Health Department and NORD-C.
Emergency Budget Committee Meeting
On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, the Council held an emergency Budget, Audit, and Board of Review Committee to discuss an important update regarding 2025 budget expenditures. Members of the Chief Administrative Office, including CAO Joe Threat, appeared before the Committee and informed them that they had uncovered an urgent cash flow issue that could affect government employees' payroll for the remainder of 2025. CAO Joe Threat also explained that the federal government shutdown has caused delays in critical funding that the administration has relied on to meet budgetary needs for the rest of the year.
Following the news from Threat, the Council suspended Rule 57 to add an item to the agenda and adopt Resolution R-25-558 to address the urgent cash flow issue during the October 23 regular meeting. This resolution grants preliminary approval for the issuance of up to $125 million in Revenue Anticipation Notes for the City of New Orleans, makes application to the State Bond Commission for approval, and provides for the sale of these Revenue Notes.
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