Economic Development

BGR Views Changes to Constitution, Tammany Charter

Overview The Bureau of Governmental Research analyzes four proposed amendments to the State constitution and one proposed amendment to the St. Tammany Parish home rule charter. The report covers amendments that will go before voters on October 20, 2007. Two...

BGR Release: Stop the Insanity on Subsidies

Overview In the face of mounting developer requests for subsidies, this release calls for the City of New Orleans and the Industrial Development Board of New Orleans to stop approving subsidies until they have implemented promised policies and procedures.

BGR Raises Concerns About Layering of Subsidies

Overview In Seeking Subsidies on Top of Subsidies, BGR raises concerns about requests for local property tax subsidies through the Industrial Development Board of New Orleans to housing developments that have already received subsidies through state and federal programs...

Protecting New Orleans’ Tax Base: Which PILOTs Should Fly?

Overview In Protecting New Orleans’ Tax Base: Which PILOTs Should Fly? BGR addresses New Orleans’ system for handling property tax subsidies through the payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) mechanism. This report comes at a time when requests for...

Funds and Games: Paying for the Saints

Overview The New Orleans Saints, the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District, and the State of Louisiana are in the midst of negotiations that will determine whether the Saints remain in New Orleans. Sports subsidies present communities with difficult political...

New Orleans’ Economic Development in Perspective

Overview On the Right Track? New Orleans Economic Development in Perspective provides an overview of economic development expenditures in New Orleans to give citizens and government with a better understanding of their investment. The report takes a comprehensive look...

BGR Examines Tax Increment Financing in New Orleans

Overview BGR studies the use of tax increment financing (TIF) in general for economic development and in New Orleans in particular, and makes recommendations.

BGR Reviews New Orleans Industrial District Tax Renewal

Overview On February 2, 2002, the voters of New Orleans will consider a proposition to authorize the extension of the property tax millage for the New Orleans Business and Industrial District. The district has since been renamed the New...

BGR Examines Four Proposed Constitutional Amendments

Overview In this report, BGR reviews the four proposed changes in the Louisiana constitution that voters will decide on November 7, 2000. The amendments would: (1) authorize the state to establish a corporation to be the state’s principal economic...