The Vision
Government should demonstrate transparency and fiscal best practices on capital and operating budgets for the benefit of New Orleans residents and be a responsible fiscal steward of tax dollars.
To reach for this vision, City officials must commit to an action plan to cause the achievement of each of the following policy goals:
A clearly articulated public strategy for developing a more transparent, effective and accessible process for budgeting.
Commitment to publicly share City financial data at regular intervals to increase resident understanding of City finances.
Establishment of a city-wide performance management system to help City leaders and the public understand how effectively the City is managing operations.
An ordinance to establish a fund balance management target that provides limits for spending one-time fund balance absent a fiscal emergency.
Creation of an expert, objective, long-term fiscal analysis of the City’s budget, projecting City revenue and expenses over the next 5-10 years.
Improved public accounting of the financial status of the City’s primary pension funds and a strategy for how to set the firefighter pension fund back on stable financial footing.
A strategy and plan for reforming the City’s procurement office by identifying and implementing procurement best practices from other high-performing municipalities.
Process and technological improvements to the sales tax collection system to incorporate opportunities for enhancing collections.
A clear operational strategy for fully utilizing the City’s new asset management software to track City-owned property.
