Nola Reporter

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans City Council Budget Chair Joseph I. Giarrusso III and Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montaño have collaborated to introduce an amendment to the 2024 Proposed Executive Budget after weeks of working with Mayor LaToya Cantrell's administration, the City Council, New Orleans residents, and stakeholders.

The proposed omnibus amendment, totaling $55 million, includes funding for programs and initiatives that were identified during the New Orleans City Council Budget Hearings. These initiatives focus on enhancing public safety and public health, expanding youth services, improving quality of life, prioritizing infrastructure and blight remediation, and professionalizing government services. The proposed omnibus amendment underscores the joint commitment of the City Council Budget Chair and Chief Administrative Officer to address the pressing issues facing the City of New Orleans.

"This budget represents the City's focus on quality of life," said Councilmember Giarrusso. "We have prioritized these objectives through various agencies, including blight remediation, continued staff recruitment for public safety agencies, and continued services for residents. Finalizing the budget requires feedback and input from the community. I am thankful for their participation as well as our work with Mayor Cantrell and CAO Montaño and my City Council colleagues, who have all pushed for certain budget initiatives."

"The 2024 budget reflects the ongoing efforts of the Cantrell Administration and the City Council to address our shared priorities, ensure residents experienced no increase in property taxes, and maintain a healthy reserve fund for the future needs of the City of New Orleans," said CAO Montaño. "The proposed omnibus amendment includes more funding for public safety, homeless encampment clean-up, and overall City operations. I appreciate the community's engagement in the budget process and the collaborative efforts with Councilmember Giarrusso and the entire City Council to move the City forward.

"Key highlights of the 2024 Proposed Executive Budget Amendment:

• Establishment of the Department of Code Enforcement: The proposed amendment clearly establishes the Department of Code Enforcement as a standalone Department and allocates $7.5M to combat blight across the City.
• Workforce Development and Affordable Housing: $17 million allocation for workforce development and affordable housing programs.
• Enhanced Healthy Homes Initiative: $2.5 million fund to fully-staff the Healthy Homes program.
• Raises for Orleans Parish Communication District (OPCD) Call Operators: $1.1 million to provide raises for OPCD call takers.
• Right to Counsel Program: $2.4 million to support the Right to Counsel program in the Office of Community Development.
• Revitalization of St. Claude: $2 million to catalyze economic restoration efforts on St. Claude.
• Support for Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB): $500,000 to establish a Medicaid billing program at OPSB to access an additional $6 million in Medicaid funding.
• Homeless Re-entry Programs: $1.1 million to support homeless re-entry programs. Enhanced Security in French Quarter: $300,000 for constables in the French Quarter.
• Support for Violent Crime Victims: A $500,000 fund to aid those affected by violent crimes.

The omnibus amendment will be considered at the City Council Meeting on Friday, December 1, at 10 a.m. A detailed overview of all changes included in the proposed omnibus amendment is available for viewing here.

Original source can be found here.