Tagged: city budget

The New Orleans City Council is now reviewing the budget proposed for next year by Mayor Mitch Landrieu. The city is dealing with lower revenues and higher expenses.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu presented the proposed 2013 city budget today at a press conference at City Hall. Below is the entire text of his prepared remarks.

Good Morning.

Today, I am presenting to the City Council and the people of New Orleans our proposed 2013 budget. All over America cities are struggling to balance their books and New Orleans is no exception. Across the board, costs are rising and we have additional requirements to fund the NOPD consent decree that will make 2013 a very tough budget year.

Hurricane Isaac has caused a delay in New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu's annual presentation of a proposed city budget.

The mayor's office said Thursday that Landrieu has signed an executive order allowing for a budget presentation two weeks later than the administration has done in the previous two years.

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is reviewing the budget approved after a 12-hour City Council session. Whether he signs it isn't clear. The mayor wanted a tax increase to fill a $24 million budget shortfall. The council instead plugged much of the deficit with the city's disaster loans. Nagin calls the tactic a "financial train wreck."

The council has control of about half the $1.1 billion budget. Federal and state grants make up the rest.