Last week, Mayor Cantrell sided with Entergy over the City Council, saying the company should be allowed to collect a greater profit from customers.
Coalition that includes the city among its members still supports lower rate of profit for utility, despite the mayor's recent support for Entergy.
Also at Thursday’s budget hearing, the Orleans Public Defender’s Office advocated for greater funding, saying their current budget isn’t enough to end a year-long hiring freeze.
Earlier this year, officials asked for as many as 16 new STR enforcement employees. That later went down to three. Emails show that top-ranking officials were nervous about how new enforcement rules would affect city tax revenue.
The state’s TOPS scholarship program and state budget formulas handicap less-advantaged students and colleges, and it’s a national trend.
Council members again ask if citywide property tax increases are necessary.
A proposed $1 million against the company also moves on to the full council.
The overall price tag for the 1200-room hotel is up nearly $30 million.
Outages in New Orleans became more frequent in the years following Entergy's disinvestment in maintenance and system upgrades.
