What are the local propositions on my ballot?

There’s three local propositions on the ballot for tomorrow’s election (October 14th), including two charter changes. Here’s a quick guide to the propositions.

Proposition 1: Operating and Capital Budgets.

A "yes" vote supports moving the deadline for the Mayor to submit the operating budget 30 days earlier to the Council, and for City Planning Commission to submit a capital program to the Mayor 30 days earlier. This gives the public more time to engage in the budget process and the Council more time to consider the budget.

Currently, the City Council has only 30 days to review the City’s $1.5 Billion City Budget, and of those, several fall on the Thanksgiving holiday. While this move will not solve many of the problems with the current City Budget process, it does give advocates, residents and City Councilmembers a greater opportunity to influence budget decisions. The Budget is the City’s most important decision, and that warrants more time, and more public engagement than is required by the current Charter.

Proposition 2: Create a Single Code Enforcement Department. A "yes" vote supports the creation of a single Code Enforcement department. Right now, Code Enforcement is not its own department and is housed in five separate places. The changes allow for more consistency and predictability in fighting blight, cutting overgrown grass, and combating graffiti.  

The City’s policy agendas are only as good as the accountability structures supporting them. Creating a Department of Code Enforcement would enable residents and advocates to better track the budget, spending, and impact of the City’s Code Enforcement work. It also gives the City the opportunity to create more effective management practices, and give residents an opportunity to hold the City accountable.

Final Proposition: Renew the School Facilities Millage A “yes” vote would renew the tax of 4.97 mills for an additional 20 years to support school facilities maintenance. This includes structural needs like roofs and foundations, walls, windows and doors, and interior plumbing and other essential school needs. Renewing the millage would mean property owners would continue to pay $49.70 annually on each $100,000 of property value above the homestead exemption. For example, the owner of a homestead-exempt property valued at $440,000 would pay $181.41 per year. (BGR)

Thanks to Councilmember Joe Giarrusso, the Bureau of Governmental Research, and NOLA Public Schools Board Chair Olin Parker for sharing more information about these propositions at our Civic Sips & Ballot Tips event yesterday evening! We’ve linked the Councilmember’s slides and BGR’s three reports below.