The Breakdown: Orleans Parish Propositions 2 and 3 explained

By Devin Bartolotta

Source: WWL-TV

November 11, 2025

NEW ORLEANS — In your Breakdown: When Orleans Parish voters head to the polls this Saturday, there will be three questions on the ballot about money. 

The city is hoping to raise more than $500 million in capital bonds and pay off the bonds over 30 years with revenue from an existing property tax.

Propositions 2 and 3 will look like this on your ballot:

• PW Prop. No. 2 of 3 (City Infrastructure) – $415M Bond – CC – 30 Yrs
• PW Prop. No 3 of 3 (Drainage & Stormwater Mgmt.) – $50M Bond – CC – 30 Yrs

Proposition 2 seeks to raise $415 million for infrastructure projects like streets, parks, and energy systems.

Proposition 3 seeks to raise $50 million for projects to reduce flooding and improve stormwater management.

The nonpartisan Bureau of Governmental Research looked at all three propositions. While it does not support Proposition 1 about affordable housing—which we covered in a previous Breakdown—it is in favor of Propositions 2 and 3.

BGR says that’s because there is a definitive list of projects the funding would go toward, there’s no other type of funding to get a head start on these projects in the short term, and it would allow the city to catch up on some delayed maintenance improvement projects while figuring out how to rely less on bonds long-term.

While there’s no organized opposition to propositions two and three, some voters have said they’re concerned with the city’s current mismanagement of funds, they are worried property taxes will eventually increase to pay the bonds back, or they say they disagree with specific projects proposed as a part of the package.

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