New Orleans to vote on three propositions Saturday

By Morgan Lentes

Source: WDSU

December 4, 2020

NEW ORLEANS —
City leaders in New Orleans are calling on residents to approve three propositions on Saturday, which all deal with taxes set to expire at the end of next year.

The first deals with funding infrastructure and maintenance projects in the city. The second involves funding for libraries and early childhood education, while the third would fund housing and economic development efforts in New Orleans.

To read the city’s explanations of the three proposals, click here.

At a news conference Friday, Mayor LaToya Cantrell made a final pitch, saying the propositions were designed as a package deal.

“The best foot forward, in a comprehensive manner, is supporting the package as presented and as restructured because with it, it will have a long term impact on our recovery and sustainability of this city,” said Cantrell.

She said if all three measures do not pass, she will have to make some tough decisions in 2021.

“These propositions are built into our 2021 budget, so clearly if they don’t pass, I have to figure out how to fill that gap, which could be done by way of moving from furloughs to layoffs,” said Cantrell. “You have to capture the savings somewhere.”

Meantime, the local nonprofit Bureau of Governmental Research has come out against the propositions.

Stephen Stuart, vice president and research director with BGR, told WDSU that the measures need more work before voters can make an educated decision about whether to support them.

“We think that the propositions at this time need additional work,” said Stuart. “Our main concern with the propositions is that voters do not have adequate information with which to judge these taxes.”

BGR’s full report is available here.

The polls are open Saturday in Louisiana from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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