NEW ORLEANS — As the state legislative session closed last week, Mayor Mitch Landrieu applauded the Orleans Delegation for their leadership in passing legislation and taking strong actions to help sustain the City’s economic growth, protect the city’s institutions of higher education and protect health care for thousands of New Orleanians.
Key successes included passing a budget that protects institutions of higher education, staves off elimination of the inventory tax cut that would have affected the local economy and reauthorizes the Medicaid waivers for Greater New Orleans Community Health Connection, or GNOCHC, which provides health care to more than 59,000 New Orleanians.
The Mayor said legislators also successfully passed an amnesty program bill that will help City get more residents into compliance with outstanding citations and collections, and they passed two Sewerage and Water Board-related bills that will help reduce customers’ water bills for special circumstances (e.g. pipe burst) and give customers more time to claim their deposits. And, when they don’t claim the deposits, S&WB can now direct the funds to the Water Help/ Plumbing Assistance Program to assist elderly, disabled and economically disadvantaged customers in paying their water bills and making minor plumbing repairs.
“Our legislative delegation faced very difficult circumstances and daunting challenges, but I am proud of how we worked together around the clock for the people of New Orleans defeating damaging proposals and passing legislation to help sustain our city’s economic growth,” said Mayor Landrieu. “This session could have ended very badly for the people of New Orleans, but through a comprehensive, aggressive and coordinated effort, we were able to protect higher education, health care, economic growth and essential City services. I am proud to work with the Orleans delegation, and we will continue to do everything we can to fight for the people and businesses of New Orleans. We’ve made too much progress to let bad decisions in Baton Rouge reverse our momentum.”
Mayor Landrieu traveled to Baton Rouge multiple times during the legislative session to meet with area lawmakers and state leaders about the City of New Orleans’ priorities. City Councilmembers and local board chairs also joined the effort.
Rep. Walt Leger said, “We began this year’s sessions with a clear objective— protect the people of New Orleans and Louisiana from catastrophic budget shortfalls. While there is still more work to be done, I am especially proud that we passed a municipal tax amnesty law that ensures New Orleans can better collect delinquent taxes and enhance compliance all around. We defeated a number of proposals that could have hurt New Orleans’ economy, and passed a number of bills that will boost economic growth in our region. The people of New Orleans should be proud of how seamlessly their delegation, the Mayor and the City Council worked together for this great community.”
Senator J.P. Morrell said, “We passed a number of measures that will help our economy grow, and I am proud to have worked alongside our delegation to deliver results to the people of New Orleans. This was a tumultuous session, but, in the end, our strong local delegation did great work for the future of our city.”
Senator Ed Murray said, “The Sewerage and Water Board is an important asset to the people of New Orleans; however, we cannot continue to place an unfair and unnecessary financial burden on customers. I am proud we were able to pass SB 50 so that S&WB can make commonsense adjustments to consumer’s water bills on undetected leaks, ultimately saving customers’ money and stopping unfair bill hikes.”
Rep. Helena Moreno said, “Throughout this session, we worked together to strengthen New Orleans’ future and all who call this area home. We passed legislation to help strengthen security in the historic French Quarter – and help reduce crime across the city – and we protected GNOCHC, sustaining live-saving health care coverage for more than 59,000 New Orleanians. I am proud of the work we did, and we’ll continue fighting for the people of this great city.”
Rep. Neil Abramson said, “As we move towards the 300th anniversary of the founding of New Orleans, it is more important than ever to celebrate the culture and history of our city. I was pleased to secure a commemorative license plate that gives our people the ability to share a piece of our important history every day. We also made great strides in protecting the health, safety and future of the New Orleans people, and I will continue working every day to strengthen our community for all residents.”
District B City Councilmember Latoya Cantrell said, “Congratulations to the delegation who delivered for the City under very difficult budgetary constraints. As Chair of the Community Development Committee, I am especially happy that the Greater New Orleans Community Health Care Connection Medicaid waivers were reauthorized for the New Orleanians who depend on that coverage."
District C Councilmember Nadine Ramsey said, “I am proud to have worked with the Orleans delegation to achieve tangible results. Our ability to work together will continue to benefit the people of the City of New Orleans.”
District D City Councilmember Jared Brossett said, “I am grateful for the hard work of the Orleans delegation this session. They did a great job for the people of New Orleans, especially when faced with such burdensome fiscal challenges.”
Below is a summary of key legislative “victories” that were part of the City’s agenda:
Municipal Tax Amnesty (HB 528 – Rep. Leger)
This law allows the City of New Orleans to waive certain fines and penalties on delinquent accounts including: red light/ traffic camera tickets, sanitation and S&WB bills, parking tickets, unpaid EMS bills, moving violations in traffic court, certain unpaid sales taxes sand other municipal accounts. This is an opportunity to raise revenue without a tax increase and expand local government’s ability to collect delinquencies and boost compliance.
Municipal Water Leak Adjustment Policy (SB 50 – Sen. Murray)
Municipal water boards, including the S&WB, lack the ability to make adjustments for consumer’s water bills on undetected leaks. This inability casts residents with often astronomical water bills, due to an unforeseen cause. This law will now allow the S&WB to create a program to compromise certain claims resulting from unforeseen leaks.
Notice for Sewerage & Water Board Customer Credits (SB 49 – Sen. Murray)
This law changes current law to require that within ninety days after termination of services, the board must notify the customer by U.S. Mail or email sent to the last known address of the customer that the unclaimed credit balance will be deposited to the "Water Help Program Fund".
300th Anniversary License Plate (HB 699 – Rep. Abramson)
New Orleans will celebrate its 300th anniversary in 2018. This is a commemorative license plate.
CAPITAL OUTLAY PROJECTS SECURED
New Orleans Airport Authority, Feasibility Study, Interchange Modification Report and Environmental Assessment (Jefferson, Orleans)
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 1 $3,500,00
Parish Line Pump Station Capacity Increase (Jefferson Parish – Redundant Drainage in Connection with the New North Terminal Airport Project
The existing Parish Line station drains the northwest section of Jefferson Parish and has a pumping capacity of 900 cfs. Phase 1 of the expansion includes the design of one additional 300 cfs pump to be constructed bringing the entire pumping capacity to 1200 cfs.
Priority 2 $1,700,000
Priority 5 $200,000 33
Total: $1,900,000
Gallier Hall Repairs, Planning and Construction
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 2 $2,500,000
Priority 5 $7,500,000
Total: $10,000,000
New Consolidated Westbank Fire Station, Planning and Construction
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 1 $375,000
Priority 5 $1,625,000
Total: $2,000,000
Fourth District Police Station, Planning and Construction
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 1 $300,000
Rosenwald Community Center. Planning and Construction
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 1 $1,990,000
Monticello Canal Culverts at Airline Highway, Planning and Construction
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 2 $4,500,000
Priority 5 $4,500,000
Total: $9,000,000
Historic Algiers Courthouse Renovation, Planning and Construction
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 1 $125,000
Priority 5 $875,000
Total: $1,000,000
Norman Playground Basketball Gym, and Park Enhancements, Planning and Construction
Payable form General Obligation Bonds
Priority 2 $100,000
Priority 5 $2,000,000
Total: $2,100,000
Treme Center Improvements, Planning and Construction
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 1 $25,000
Canal Street East-Bank Ferry Terminal, Planning and Construction
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 2 $100,000
Priority 5 $2,100,000
Total: $2,100,000
Taylor Pool and Playground, Renovations and Upgrades, Planning and Construction
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 1 $250,000
Construction of Opelousas Street Extension from Behrman Avenue to Obannon Street and Construction of Patterson Drive Extension from Hendee Street to Obannon Street, Planning and Construction
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 1 $2,450,000
Algiers Playgrounds and Parks, Renovation of Restrooms, Lighting, Fencing, and Playground Equipment
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 1 $275,000
Behrman Park Improvements – New Soccer Facility, Planning and Construction Master Planning
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 1 $9,240,000
Eastern New Orleans Hospital Equipment, Planning, Design, and Construction
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 1 $2,800,000
George W. Carver Playground, Renovations and Upgrades, Planning and Construction
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 1 $450,000
Holiday Drive Roadway Construction (Gen. MacArthur to Behrman)
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 1 $100,000
New Multi-Department Facility, Planning and Construction
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 1 $195,000 20
Algiers Fire Station, Planning and Construction
Payable from General Obligation Bonds
Priority 1 $200,000
