By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | In a city confronting an ever-rising homicide count and profound infrastructural and economic challenges, one place remains relatively calm: City Hall. With a noticeable absence of strife or dissent, the City Council voted today to unanimously approve a $497 million general operating budget for 2012 that looks […]
Tag: 2012 New Orleans city budget
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Satellite government bodies doing just fine, not likely to return much money to city
As part of its annual budget review, the City Council heard presentations today from the dozen semi-autonomous agencies that manage New Orleans assets such as Piazza D’Italia in the Central Business District and, less glamorously, the city’s thousands of blighted lots. Though none of the entities depends on the tax dollars that go into the city’s general operating fund, their budgets must be approved by the council.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Despite public's pleas for basic repairs, mayor wants to cut public works spending
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Spending on road and infrastructure maintenance likely will decrease in 2012 despite its importance to voters. The move by Mayor Mitch Landrieu to decrease spending for the Department of Public Works is a bold one. Unlike more esoteric sectors of city governance such as the Office of […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
New Orleans will soon boast bigger libraries — which will soon need bigger budgets
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | New Orleans taxpayers are likely to be asked to pay more money to run city libraries, officials with that system told the City Council today. The need for more operating funds is due in large part to a post-Katrina rebuilding of the system that one-time disaster grants […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Overall crime may be lower, but council wants NOPD to bring down homicides
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas faced tough questioning this afternoon from a skeptical City Council about how his well-publicized reforms are addressing the city’s homicide rate. The chief came armed with a sheaf of statistics to support his efforts, but council members were not receptive just two days […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Councilwoman blasts Landrieu for not changing the way sheriff gets paid
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Councilwoman Susan Guidry criticized Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s administration Tuesday for failing to change the way it pays for inmates housed at the city’s jail. Guidry’s displeasure came out as the council continued its review of Landrieu’s proposed 2012 budget. The hearing Tuesday reviewed the budgets of the […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
With 20 percent ignoring costs, council pushes city to collect delinquent trash fees
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s top lieutenant faced pressure from the City Council Monday after stepping in to defend one of his department heads for only collecting 80 percent of the city’s trash fees. Chief Administrative Officer Andy Kopplin stepped in to protect Chief Financial Officer Norman Foster after […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Juvenile Court judges say they lack clerk, ask council to restore 10 percent budget cut
Orleans Parish Juvenile Court officials pleaded their case to City Council members Friday against the Landrieu administration’s more than $90,000 cut to their personnel funding, and a more than $300,000 cut to support services funding for at-risk youth. The Juvenile Court is beseeching the council for $3.9 million total in funding for next year, nearly […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Council frustrated that rank-and-file jobs frozen while top-brass spots getting filled
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Since Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s inauguration nearly a year and a half ago – he’d know how many days it has been – he’s enjoyed an amicable relationship with the City Council that serves as his legislative check and balance. Members laugh at his jokes. Often, they praise […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Despite community input, Landrieu increases NOPD spending, cuts most other areas
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | This summer, Mayor Mitch Landrieu invited residents to come out and tell him how they wanted their tax dollars spent in 2012. Community meetings held in every section of the city attracted hundreds of residents who spoke passionately about needs in their community – needs for jobs, […]