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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 11, 2026
Councilmember Lesli Harris Secures $5 Million for the City Through Partnership with Municipal and Traffic Court led by Judge Bobby Jones
NEW ORLEANS, LA — New Orleans City Council Budget Committee Chair Councilmember Lesli Harris announced today that the City of New Orleans will receive $5 million in cash reserves from the Municipal and Traffic Court of New Orleans, following collaborative work between the Council and the Court.
The transfer of these funds will provide an important boost to the City’s finances as leaders work to navigate ongoing fiscal challenges while maintaining essential services for residents.
Councilmember Harris worked with the Council fiscal staff and the Municipal and Traffic Court, led by Judge Bobby Jones, to identify the available cash reserves and facilitate the return of these funds to the City’s budget. “At a time when we are carefully evaluating every dollar in the City’s budget, securing these funds is an important step in strengthening our financial position,” said Councilmember Lesli Harris, Chair of the City Council’s Budget Committee. “I’ve said repeatedly that the City needs to shake every couch cushion we can find to make sure we are using our resources responsibly. This is a perfect example of that approach, working collaboratively to identify funds that can be returned to the City and put to work for our residents.”
The $5 million will help support the City’s broader financial planning efforts and assist in maintaining services that residents rely on.
As Budget Chair, Councilmember Harris has focused on strengthening financial oversight, identifying available resources, and ensuring the City is positioned to address its current budget challenges while continuing to invest in neighborhoods across New Orleans.
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Contact:
Emma Trunkle
Director of Communications
Councilmember Lesli Harris, District B
Emma.Trunkle@nola.gov
406.871.4693
 New Orleans City Council
The New Orleans City Council is the legislative branch of the New Orleans city government. The Council considers and enacts all local laws that govern the City of New Orleans. The Council also approves the operating and capital budgets for the City, as recommended by the mayor, and continually monitors revenues and expenditures for local government operations. The City Council is also the regulatory body for public utilities. It also reviews and has the final say on many land use and zoning matters, as well as considers major economic development projects for the City. As a Board of Review for Orleans Parish, the Council examines appeals of property tax assessments for real estate taxes and certifies tax rolls to the Louisiana Tax Commission. Other responsibilities of the Council include overseeing the operation of the public access television in Orleans Parish. Streaming video and video archives of the City Council's Regular and Committee meetings can be found on the City Council website.
The City Council is comprised of five districts and Councilmembers-at-large: Council President and Councilmember-at-Large JP Morrell; Council Vice President and Councilmember-At-Large Matthew Willard; District "A" Councilmember Aimee McCarron; District "B" Councilmember Lesli D. Harris; District "C" Councilmember Freddie King III; District "D" Councilmember Eugene J. Green, Jr.; and District "E" Councilmember Jason Hughes.
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