Budget/Audit/Board of Review Committee Meeting Summary

Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 01:00 P.M.

The Budget/Audit/Board of Review Committee of the New Orleans City Council met to review and approve several budget amendments, discuss a jail healthcare contract extension, consider civil service pay plan changes, and enter executive session to discuss pending litigation. The meeting was chaired by Councilmember Lesli Harris. All votes were unanimous (4-0) with Councilmember Freddie King absent.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The committee approved the minutes from the April 16, 2026 Budget Committee meeting. (Motion by Harris, seconded by Morrell, passed 4-0)
• Multiple Budget Ordinances: The following ordinances were approved unanimously without public discussion:
  • Cal. No. 35,432 – Creation of the 2026 Caesars Lease Rent Strip Sale Proceeds Fund to dedicate proceeds from the sale of future lease payments from Jazz Casino Company, L.L.C. for the Caesars New Orleans Casino to housing.
  • Cal. Nos. 35,435 & 35,436 – Transfer of $5,000 from Intergovernmental Revenues to the Louisiana Dept. of Health and Human Services (Fund 4405) in the Health Department for healthy behaviors and healthcare access.
  • Cal. Nos. 35,437 & 35,438 – Transfer of $16,231 from Intergovernmental Revenues to Private Grants (Fund 4900) in the Health Department from the Robert Wood Johnson grant for operating expenses.
  • Cal. Nos. 35,439 & 35,440 – Transfer of $430,088 from Private Grants to the Health Department’s Office of Violence Prevention for violence prevention and victim support initiatives.
  • Cal. No. 35,441 – Transfer of $3,953,359 from Intergovernmental Revenues to the General Fund for the Police Department (Grounds Transportation), including $2,566,359 for Personal Services and $1,387,000 for Other Operating.
  • Cal. No. 35,442 – Transfer of $1,593,000 within NORDC from Personal Services to Other Operating to correct a classification error for operational, programmatic, and facility maintenance needs.
  • Cal. Nos. 35,443 & 35,444 – Transfer of $556,974 from Intergovernmental Revenues to the French Quarter Development District (Fund 5128) to implement its 2026 adopted budget (including $131,463 for Personal Services and $425,511 for Other Operating).
  • Cal. No. 35,445 – Re-appropriation of $1,600,000 in 2024 A Bonds from the Departments of Public Works and Property Management to the Chief Administrative Office to honor a previous commitment to Desire Community Housing Corp. for Desire Square construction.

Executive Session

• The committee unanimously voted (4-0) to enter executive session to discuss two pending lawsuits:
  • Chelsey Richard Napoleon v. City of New Orleans (Case No. C-7782244 23, 19th JDC, Judge Tarvald A. Smith)
  • City of New Orleans v. Municipal Police Employees' Retirement System (19th JDC No. C-724562 c/w C-767063, Judge Eboni Johnson Rose) The committee reconvened without taking public action on the litigation.

Discussion Items

• M-26-199 – Wexford Health Sources, Inc. Agreement (Jail Healthcare Extension): Presenters Sheriff Woodfork, Adam Gordon, and Abby Vienne introduced a motion to extend the Professional Services Agreement with Wexford Health Sources, Inc. for comprehensive correctional health services at Orleans Parish Prison by one year, from June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027. The maximum aggregate annual compensation is not to exceed $24,267,264. This motion was added to the City Council Regular agenda of May 21, 2026 for further discussion. No vote was taken in committee.
• Civil Service Pay Plan and Rule Amendments: Councilmember Harris noted that the following motions, approved by the Civil Service Commission, would be added to the City Council meeting agenda of June 4, 2026. No committee vote was taken:
  • M-25-182 (Juvenile Justice Center Hiring Rates)
  • M-25-183 (Juvenile Reentry Support Specialist and Supervisor)
  • M-25-184 (Chief Administrative Office – New Grants Specialist Series)
  • M-25-186 (Public Works – Traffic Signal Series)
  • M-25-187 (Police – Latent Print Supervisor)
  • M-25-189 (Professional Certification Pay – 5% increase)
  • M-25-235 (Police – Deputy Superintendent of Police/Fiscal and Personnel Management)
  • M-25-236 (Police – Latent Print Examiner Series)
  • M-25-238 (Property Management – Real Estate Administrator)
  • M-25-239 (Police – Combined DNA Index System Series and DNA Technical Leader – added to May 21 agenda)
  • M-25-288 (Police – Rule Amendments for overtime compensation)
  • M-25-435 (Police – Crime Scene Investigation Manager)
  • M-26-38 (Office of Inspector General – Deputy IG of Information Technology)
  • M-26-39 (Property Management – Cemetery Programs Superintendent)
  • M-26-40 (Health/EMS – Revised Special Rates of Pay for EMS)
  • M-26-41 (Safety and Permits – Special Rate of Pay for ICC Certifications)
  • M-26-44 (Chief Administrative Office – Adjudication Bureau Administrator)
  • M-26-83 (Sewerage and Water Board – Cybersecurity Series)
  • M-26-84 (Sewerage and Water Board – Operational Technology Systems Series)
  • M-26-115 (Sewerage and Water Board – Information Management Series)
  • M-26-198 (Health/EMS – Emergency Medical Services Series)

Key Outcomes

• All budget ordinances (Cal. Nos. 35,432, 35,435-36, 35,437-38, 35,439-40, 35,441, 35,442, 35,443-44, 35,445) were approved unanimously (4-0) and will proceed to the full City Council.
• The executive session was held and the committee reconvened without further action.
• The Wexford jail healthcare contract extension (M-26-199) was referred to the May 21, 2026 City Council Regular agenda for further discussion.
• The 21 civil service pay plan motions were referred to the June 4, 2026 City Council agenda.
• The meeting adjourned at an unspecified time on a motion by Harris, seconded by Willard, passed 4-0.