New Orleans city departments are facing challenges with reduced funding as budget hearings wrap up for the week.
The budget hearings could potentially impact services for residents across the city.
The Department of Public Works (DPW) is among those facing significant hurdles, as they presented their concerns to the city council amid a growing deficit.
DPW, responsible for essential services like fixing potholes and maintaining streetlights, painted a grim picture during the hearings.
They warned that reductions in staff funding and several million dollars in budget cuts could hinder their ability to address the backlog of 311 reports, which many residents use to report pothole issues.
“This will affect our potholing and asphalt patching, ditching, regrading, as well as installation of traffic signs and signal maintenance,” said Rick Hathaway, Public Works Director. “Not emergency signal repairs, those will continue.”
Nathan Penn, a resident of Conti Street, expressed his frustration with the pervasive pothole problem.
“Everywhere you go, there’s no spot that you’re not going to see a pothole, really all over the city,” said Penn.
The budget hearings will continue next week starting on Monday. A final budget must be approved no later than Dec. 1.
READ MORE:DPW paints grim picture for 311 calls amid potential budget cuts
