New Orleans officials on the third day of capital-budget hearings pushed a $510 million general-obligation bond package that would appear on the Nov. 15 ballot and fund affordable housing, stormwater and general infrastructure projects.

Kyle Homan, director of the project delivery unit, told the council that the administration and the Board of Liquidation expect the package would not require a tax increase and that changes to the project lists would have to be made through the council’s Public Works Committee. “There are 3 separate resolutions … 1 for affordable housing at $45,000,000, 1 for stormwater and drainage for $50,000,000, and another for infrastructure for $415,000,000,” Homan said. “Those are available for the public to review, and any changes to those lists would need to go through the public works committee of the council.”

Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for infrastructure Lanitra Hassan said the city’s capital program is shifting away from federal grants — especially FEMA funding — toward bond financing. “Our FEMA funding is … going down,” she said. “The primary source of capital funds now is coming from general obligation bonds.”

Council members emphasized that the bond proceeds are intended to address an array of neighborhood needs — from streets and bridges to drainage and housing — and urged voters to weigh the long-term benefits. Councilmember Drews asked a procedural question that drew attention: “For affordable housing, if the bond issuance doesn’t pass, that means everything would have to come from the general funds. Is that correct?” Homan replied that the city would need to rely more heavily on limited general-fund resources or pursue federal grants in that case.

Speakers and staff cited program examples and past bond-funded projects to illustrate what the money would support. Officials noted construction underway or completed with prior bond funding — including affordable housing projects such as Grove Place and O.C. Haley, parks work, and sports-field upgrades — and highlighted that the 2019 bond package funded a variety of neighborhood improvements.

Council members also asked about debt-service costs and market timing. Homan said the interest rate will depend on market conditions at sale and that the city will rely on its financial advisors to time the sale. He repeatedly told the council that the Board of Liquidation process was structured so they did not expect a tax increase tied to the sale.

The administration said the public can review the project lists associated with the bond resolutions online and that voters will see the proposal on the Nov. 15 ballot.