Helena Moreno

New Orleans' city council is considering a property tax increase to help close a budget gap in Mayor Helena Moreno's proposed 2027 budget, which otherwise includes roughly $80 million in spending cuts. Without the new revenue, the city says it could lay off 37 sanitation workers, close a low-barrier homeless shelter, reduce NOPD civilian staffing and traffic response, scale back Mardi Gras cleanup, and cut right-to-counsel services for people facing eviction. The average homeowner would pay about $200 more a year if the increase passes, generating an estimated $20 million. Even with the hike, the city would still need about $50 million in operating cuts. The council must pass a balanced budget by Dec. 1, with a vote on the tax measure set for Nov. 5.

New Orleans' City Council is set to vote Nov. 5 on whether to "roll forward" property tax millages to their full allowed rates, a move Mayor Helena Moreno's administration says could generate millions to help avoid cuts to sanitation and other city services. Previous councils had opted not to charge the higher rates while revenues covered expenses, but officials say the city's financial situation has since changed.

The administration estimates the average homeowner could pay about $200 more per year if the full increase passes. The debate has also renewed scrutiny of property tax exemptions for churches, nonprofits, and universities, which own a small share of parcels but a large share of total property value in Orleans Parish.

New Orleans residents will pay more for trash service starting Oct. 1, as a sanitation rate hike approved by the City Council takes effect. Monthly residential fees rise from $24 to $32.25, an increase of $99 a year, covering once-weekly garbage and recycling pickup. Mayor Helena Moreno requested the increase, and the council approved it 6-1, with Councilmember Jason Hughes dissenting after hearing opposition from constituents.

Officials say the previous rate hasn't covered service costs for years, forcing the city to spend nearly $70 million since 2022 to cover the gap. Council President JP Morrell attributes higher costs partly to the city's 2015 living wage ordinance, which requires sanitation contractors to pay workers at least $16 an hour. All residents can get a free second garbage cart, and low-income residents 65 and older may qualify for a reduced $10 monthly rate. Rates will now be reviewed every other January.

New Orleans is marking "9 to 5 Day" with a series of tributes to Dolly Parton, who died last month. Mayor Helena Moreno and the New Orleans City Council are officially recognizing the day as "Dolly Day," with a mayoral proclamation planned for the evening.

The centerpiece of the tributes is a memorial parade hosted by the Krewe of Dolly, a Mardi Gras krewe inspired by the singer that raises money to expand her Imagination Library literacy program to every New Orleans ZIP code. The parade route runs from Armstrong Park through the French Quarter to the New Orleans Jazz Museum, followed by a celebration of life at the Blue Nile and an after-party at the Hi-Ho Lounge. Additional events include a Dolly-themed brunch at the Kingfish benefiting the Imagination Library, a library party in Jefferson Parish, burlesque shows at The Royal Sonesta, and samples of Parton's new "Cup of Ambition" coffee at a local Rouses Market. Parton had longstanding ties to the city through past performances and television filming.

Mayor Helena Moreno, five New Orleans City Council members and District Attorney Jason Williams were subpoenaed Monday as part of a public records lawsuit against Laurie White, the special prosecutor in the grand jury case that indicted Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill on 16 counts of public intimidation and malfeasance. The suit was filed by Murrill's attorney, Blake Arcuri, challenging White's response to records requests, and could reveal new details about how the indictment came together and whether city officials had any role in it.

Prosecutors had alleged Murrill threatened to remove Moreno and most of the council over a dispute involving the Orleans Parish clerk of court; those charges were dropped in late July at the officials' request. City officials maintain they had no involvement in the indictment, a claim Murrill disputes. Gov. Jeff Landry has backed Murrill and ordered a State Police investigation. City Attorney Charline Gipson called the subpoenas improper and said the city would fight them in court. A hearing is set for Oct. 1, when White will seek to dismiss the lawsuit.

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno's administration is preparing a 2027 budget that officials say will require significant, targeted cuts after the city leaned heavily on one-time funding sources in 2026. The budget will be presented to the City Council on September 22. Chief Administrative Officer Joe Giarrusso said reductions would be surgical rather than uniform across departments, continuing the approach used for the current budget. The city has adopted a 2027 revenue projection of $768.2 million.

Officials hope to end employee furloughs by the fourth quarter of this year as revenue from a garbage rate hike, effective October 1, and other new fees comes in. The administration is also collecting public input on spending priorities through community meetings and an online survey. At a recent Gentilly meeting, residents raised concerns about infrastructure and safety issues, including overgrown lots blocking sidewalks, deep potholes, and broken streetlights and traffic signals affecting driving safety and emergency response.

Essence Festival's multiyear contract with New Orleans expired Friday, leaving its future in the city unresolved. Essence leaders met this week with a steering committee formed by Mayor Helena Moreno to discuss next steps. Organizers want a new "sustainable" multiyear deal with "shared investment," proposing not just the festival but a year-round initiative called Essence 365. Parent company Sundial Media & Technology Group has floated an annual investment of $10 million to $12 million, mostly for the 365 program, though it says that sum was meant to be shared among the state, tourism groups, and regional businesses rather than funded solely by the city.

The city currently contributes $750,000 annually and, amid a fiscal crisis involving furloughs and higher sanitation rates, has called the larger ask unfeasible. Officials also cited concerns over late vendor payments and delayed Superdome performances, and are weighing a competitive bidding process for future festivals. Baltimore's mayor has publicly courted Essence as an alternative host. Both sides describe talks as ongoing with no resolution yet.

New Orleans officials are considering a new fee structure for Mardi Gras parade krewes as the city grapples with a budget deficit. Under the proposal, krewes would pay $5,000, $7,500 or $10,000 per parade depending on size, starting in 2027, replacing the current range of $750 to $1,500. The change would generate roughly $265,000 in new revenue, or about $6.64 per rider, according to city estimates.

Mayor Helena Moreno's administration says the fee increase addresses a gap between what the city spends on Carnival and what it recoups in tax revenue. A 2024 Tulane study found the city's tax take from Mardi Gras is split among multiple agencies, leaving a $3.75 million shortfall in 2023 despite the event's large economic footprint. City leaders liken the situation to lessons learned from Taylor Swift's "Eras Tour." The new tiered plan replaces earlier proposals for per-rider and per-float fees that drew pushback from the community. The measure goes before the full City Council on September 3.