Today the Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR) released two reports providing independent, nonpartisan analysis to New Orleans voters on propositions in the November 15 election. Early voting begins Saturday, November 1.
On the Ballot: $510 Million New Orleans Capital Bonds analyzes three separate bond propositions that would authorize the City of New Orleans (City) to borrow a total of $510 million for capital projects. The new long-term debt would go toward City infrastructure, including streets, buildings, parks and equipment ($415 million), drainage and stormwater management projects ($50 million), and affordable housing facilities ($45 million). BGR’s report reviews the spending plans and accountability for each proposition, alternative funding sources, and evidence that the bonds would result in effective outcomes for the public.
- Based on its analysis, BGR takes positions in favor of the City infrastructure bonds and the drainage and stormwater management bonds. Bonds are the City’s main source of capital project funding, excluding state and federal grants. The new bonds would sustain the City’s work to address infrastructure, building and equipment needs, while also investing in community and neighborhood priorities. Without the bonds, the City will have to delay these investments. The City Council has improved transparency over previous bond issues by establishing formal project lists for each proposition and a public process for updating them over time. In supporting these bond propositions, BGR also makes recommendations to increase maintenance funding and public reporting.
- BGR takes a position against the affordable housing bonds. While the Housing Trust Fund offers an accountable way to deploy the bond proceeds to improve housing affordability in New Orleans, BGR has several concerns about using long-term debt to meet the annual budget obligation to the trust fund.
Click the button below or this link to read a mobile-friendly summary of BGR’s report and access the full report and the media release. In addition, BGR continued its effort to expand access to its ballot reports by translating the report summary into Spanish.
On the Ballot: New Orleans City Attorney Charter Amendment analyzes a proposed City charter amendment to clarify that the City Attorney represents the entire City of New Orleans, and not just the mayor or the City Council. It also would allow the council to block the mayor’s firing of the City Attorney under certain circumstances. BGR’s report examines whether the proposal would effectively address a clear problem or need, and whether it is necessary or desirable to change the charter to improve public outcomes.
Based on its analysis, BGR takes a position against the City Attorney charter amendment. BGR finds that the amendment is unnecessary to achieve the desired goal of improving the working relationship between the City Attorney, the mayor and the council because the key principles for navigating those relationships, as stated in the amendment, already appear in the current charter and ethical rules. BGR views the City Council’s confirmation process for the next City Attorney as a more effective way of improving public outcomes than the proposed charter amendment’s process of giving the council the option to block the mayor’s firing of the City Attorney.
Click the button below or this link to read a mobile-friendly summary of BGR’s report and access the full report and the media release. Click here to access a Spanish translation of BGR’s report summary.