All right, Madam Clark, we have a quorum, we can begin.

I have a letter.

I have a letter dated November 14, 2025.

Lord Johnson, Clerk of Council, New Orleans City Council 1300 Pedito Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112.

Dear Madam Clerk, pursuant to my authority in section three-1075 of the Home Rule Charter of the City of New Orleans.

There will be a special council meeting on the following date, Wednesday, January seventh, twenty twenty six at nine A.M.

This meeting will be limited to the discussion and consideration of matters relative to the current financial condition of the city, including without limitation the status of the general fund and any changes to expected revenue or funding.

Councilmember Moreno.

Present.

We have seven members.

We have a quorum.

Yes, right.

So I'll move to receive.

Oh, Councilmember Green's move to receive this.

That's fine.

Councilmember Green is second.

All right, Mr.

Burnside, you want to speak, sir.

Before we add.

So Michael Art Burnside, 2215 Felicity.

This is my second to last day, aka the penultimate day.

So it's nice to see the City Council.

So in regards to the legislative auditor and his report, it's always good to have a report, and it's always good to add it to the agenda.

Unfortunately, it's not added to the agenda, it's out of the minutes.

If that's not possible, then it might be nice to have a notice somewhere informing people to go look for the minutes because hopefully there are more people than I who care about what the legislative auditors are doing and would like to follow him in his efforts.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

All right.

I think Councilmember Morale moved to add, I seconded all in favor.

Please take your machines, seven years, no nays.

And with that, we'll hear from the legislative auditor.

Good morning and happy new year.

Good morning, Mike Wagasbach, Louisiana Light Slave Auditor.

Um I think you have before you are uh review of this uh payroll run dated January 7, 2026, in accordance with the state bond commission terms and conditions of the approval of the city of New Orleans, 125 million dollar revenue note bond.

Uh as of one seven, January 7, 2026, our preliminary review indicates that the city's requests totaling 10 million one hundred and eighty-six thousand two hundred twenty-four dollars, which is made up of the six million seven fifty-three four hundred forty-five, which is to be transferred to the Chase Payroll card account, and the three million four thirty-two seven seven nine will be to reimburse the city's general fund.

Um as noted in the first bullet, the six million seven hundred and fifty-three dollars four hundred and forty-five dollars and thirty-two cents is payable to the Chase Payroll card funding account inning 2811 for the purpose of funding the employee compensation and related ex related employee and employer payrolls for pay period innings 132026 as noted in exhibit A.

The second bullet has 3,432 779.17 cents payable to the city general fund account for Chase Bank to reimburse the general fund for the fringe benefits, including but not limited to health insurance, pension contributions, garnishments, etc.

for the prior pay period ending 1227 2025.

So in Zibit A, you'll see that uh transfer that'll be made to the Chase account of as previously stated the 6.7 million, and then we'll have the reimbursement in exhibit B for the payroll fringes in the municipal employees retirement system, 3.4 million, and we have our summary by agency department showing the gross earnings of 7 million 49,000 in the non-OTP pay overtime pay column of 6.4 million, and the overtime pay this particular pay period was 580 million, which kind of fell in line with projections again.

That's for the payroll, uh the admin and weekly payroll ending 132026.

Exhibit D, as we follow the use of the 125 million, we'll see that after these two transfers are made or balanced as of 17, 2026 after transfers will be 30 million six hundred and ten thousand seven hundred and seven dollars and twelve cents.

So that's my report approving this particular transfer or drawdown the RAN fund.

I'm here to answer any questions you may have.

Councilmember Thomas.

Uh first this is uh will be the last meeting when you guys I'm here that you appear before us, uh, but I didn't want this opportunity to go by uh without thanking you uh in your team and your professionalism.

Uh as someone who has been around a while, I've noticed the singular focus that you guys have had on this.

Uh not police and blame, even though I know uh you saw some material weaknesses on all sides.

Uh I said earlier this week and kind of went over the charter in the budget with Jim Singleton, who was called the budget guru, and he reminded me and he saw in the charter words like continually, oversight, accountability, ordination.

And I'm just hoping in the conversation I've had with you that this information uh in the way that you have done it for the next administration and the next council can give them at least a chance to understand the charter, the different roles and the responsibility.

And the other thing that I appreciated about what you do, uh, where in many cases the press has tried to plug blame game, uh, your relationship with our budget chairman and the people you've been working with, uh you've worked hard to make sure that we have a foundation, especially an accounting foundation and the financial foundation, so that wherever we are with accounts receivables and payables, it is what it is.

And you've also uh protected and haven't disparaged the reputations of people like Rome and Frieda and others who have not gotten their due.

Uh history and legend and public record will show that at some point, but I can see why you're good at what you do, and I think for all of us here politically who are watching, this is probably a great example of when the state and the city work together.

You can actually have a positive outcome of something good for all of us.

So you you appreciate it, uh Mr.

Wix.

Well, thank you, Ms.

Thomas.

We appreciate that.

We we we we we we proud ourselves to be a good third third party neutral party to bring forth best practices.

So hopefully when we're when our business is done here, these best practices will be rolled out and and followed through with.