Council approves bond package; debate centers on housing cost, project list

The New Orleans City Council on a recorded vote approved measures tied to a proposed $510,000,000 bond package, with separate votes on affordable housing, drainage and an infrastructure proposition.

Council member Jerusa, who led much of the presentation, told colleagues the package targets long-neglected neighborhoods and projects including a multipurpose center in Desire, pool repairs, a solar project on the former Gordon Plaza site and street work such as Piety Street. “Please recognize that this bond issue as you go to vote includes a lot of suggestions and a lot of projects that will help to enhance the recreation climate in our city,” Council member Jerusa said.

Why it matters: Council members said the bond aims to address recreation, drainage and neighborhood infrastructure citywide. The bond package will appear on a council-called special election for voters; council members also discussed language intended to give the council added oversight of how proceeds are spent.

Debate and concerns: Mr. Burnside pressed the council on several cost-related concerns, focusing on affordable housing numbers and the long-term cost of borrowing. He said the bond program, as written, could pay for roughly 45 affordable housing units if units cost about $1 million each, and questioned whether the package contains caps or unit definitions. “If we continue to pay affordable housing at the cost of $1,000,000 each, we have exactly 45 housing units in this bond,” Mr. Burnside said. He also criticized financing terms, saying a 30‑year bond at the current rate would increase overall interest costs and called for alternatives such as a stormwater fee rather than entirely relying on property-tax-backed bonds.

Council responses and oversight language: Other members, including Council member Morrell, highlighted language in the bond documents that they said would give the council clearer oversight and reduce the risk that dedicated bond funds are moved elsewhere in the budget. Morrell said the bond “not only enumerates how the bond money is gonna be spent. There's additional language that gives the council oversight in making sure the money is spent the way that it says it's gonna be spent.”

Votes and next steps: The council approved the affordable housing item (item 41) unanimously (7–0). A substitute resolution tied to the infrastructure ballot item also passed by recorded vote (substitute resolution approval recorded as seven yeas, no nays). Council members said the ballot will include separate propositions for affordable housing, drainage/stormwater and infrastructure projects; the council will present the full project list to voters but noted the ordinance language does not list dollar amounts next to every project.

Context and local projects: Members referenced specific projects and neighborhoods that could receive funding if the bond is approved by voters, including Desire multipurpose center, Lincoln Beach Phase 2, repairs to pools and neighborhood street and drainage work. Council members also emphasized outreach to neighborhoods to identify streets and other priorities.

Looking ahead: Council members said the next steps include finalizing ballot language and continuing outreach to neighborhoods and stakeholders. Several members asked for additional detail on unit definitions and funding caps for affordable housing projects before proceeds are obligated.