Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Oversight topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council seeks attorney general guidance on requiring sheriff to use city finance system
Summary
The council adopted a resolution asking the Louisiana Attorney General for guidance on whether the City Council can require the Orleans Parish Sheriff to use the city’s enterprise financial system (BRASS) and whether the council may review or approve sheriff contracts funded by city appropriations.
The New Orleans City Council voted to request formal legal guidance from the Louisiana Attorney General on two questions about oversight of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s use of city-appropriated funds.
The resolution asks: (1) whether the council has authority to require the Orleans Parish Sheriff to use the city's enterprise resource planning system, commonly called BRASS, for operating and personnel expenditures and contracts funded with city-appropriated funds; and (2) whether the council or the city attorney's office has authority to review, approve or otherwise exercise oversight over contracts that the sheriff awards using funds appropriated by the city.
Council members described the resolution as a step to secure legal clarity before asking state-elected or independent parish offices to participate in BRASS. Several council members said they have repeatedly requested straightforward financial information from the sheriff’s office — including cash reserves and bonding capacity — and that responses were incomplete or delayed. Vice President Moreno and Councilmember Jeruso characterized the measure as an effort to avoid litigation by obtaining a written legal opinion.
The resolution passed unanimously after brief debate. Council members said they expect the attorney general’s opinion to inform future requirements for inclusion in BRASS and to guide legislative or administrative follow-up.
Ending: Council members asked administration staff to provide the attorney general’s response to the criminal-justice committee before a scheduled committee meeting at which the sheriff's office is expected to appear.
