New Orleans budget proposal will outline cuts after a year of furloughs and fee increases

New Orleans officials are preparing a 2027 city budget proposal that could include targeted reductions after a year of employee furloughs, reliance on one-time funds and higher sanitation fees.

Mayor Helena Moreno is scheduled to present the proposal to the New Orleans City Council on September 22, 2026. Until that presentation, residents and city workers will not know which departments, programs or services could be affected.

A projected $768.2 million in revenue

The proposal is being built around a reported $768.2 million 2027 revenue projection. That figure is a forecast supporting a mayoral proposal, not an adopted budget. The city’s revenue-estimating process is part of the broader work used to establish its fiscal outlook; the official September 10 agenda available to the public addressed an amended 2026 General Fund revenue forecast.

Recent reporting by Axios New Orleans described the administration’s fiscal outlook as difficult. Chief Administrative Officer Joe Giarrusso said the city is seeking “surgical” or targeted reductions rather than a uniform cut across all departments.

The administration has also relied on one-time funds and employee furloughs during 2026. Officials have said they want to end furloughs in the fourth quarter of this year rather than carry broad furloughs into 2027.

Sanitation bills are scheduled to rise

A $99 annual increase in the residential sanitation rate is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026. The City Council approved the increase as part of a broader effort to support sanitation and address the city’s fiscal pressure, but the fee is not expected to resolve that pressure by itself.

For households, the increase adds to the cost of city services while officials consider reductions elsewhere. For city employees, the budget process could determine whether furloughs end as planned and whether staffing or work schedules change in 2027.

Residents have raised basic-service concerns

At community budget meetings, residents have focused on practical city responsibilities, including infrastructure response, streetlights, traffic signals, potholes, sidewalks and interactions with city agencies.

The administration has not identified specific cuts to those services. The concerns show why the September proposal will matter to residents, commuters, neighborhood businesses and workers who depend on timely city maintenance and agency assistance.

Remaining public meetings

The city’s official budget page lists four remaining community meetings before the council presentation:

• September 14 at 6 p.m.: Household of Faith Church, 9300 I-10 Service Road, District E.
• September 15 at 6 p.m.: Walter L. Cohen High School, 3575 Baronne Street, District B.
• September 16 at 6 p.m.: Phillis Wheatley Community School, 2300 Dumaine Street, District C.
• September 17 at 6 p.m.: Christian Brothers School, 4600 Canal Street, District A.

Residents can also submit feedback through the city’s online budget survey.

What remains undecided

The September 22 presentation is expected to provide the first detailed look at the administration’s plan. The proposal will need to clarify department-level reductions, potential staffing effects, service changes and the use of any remaining one-time funds.

The City Council will review the mayor’s proposal and could amend it before final action. Until that process is complete, the $768.2 million figure and any potential cuts remain part of a proposed budget—not a final spending plan for New Orleans.

Sources

• City of New Orleans 2027 budget page
• New Orleans expects "pain" in 2027 budget

Look for updates to this story

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