Politics
Orleans Parish voters decide $180 annual property tax increase for flood protection
The November ballot measure would raise property taxes by an average of $180 per year in Orleans Parish to fund levee and drainage upgrades.
How we reported this
The New Orleans Flood Protection Millage Referendum asks voters to approve a two-mill increase on property taxes that would generate $12 million annually for the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority. The measure targets maintenance on the 17th Street Canal levee and additional pumping capacity at the London Avenue station. Residents in zip codes 70124 and 70122 would see the largest assessment changes based on current assessed values.
Why the measure reaches the ballot now
City records show that federal cost-share agreements for post-Katrina levee work expire in 2027. Without new local revenue the authority projects a $8.4 million shortfall for routine inspections and vegetation control along the Mississippi River levee system. The referendum language limits the increase to 10 years and requires annual public audits of expenditures.
Property owners with homestead exemptions would pay the full rate on the first $75,000 of assessed value. Renters in multifamily buildings would not receive direct bills but could face pass-through increases when leases renew. Local advocates note that households earning under $35,000 a year already spend 8 percent of income on property taxes in Orleans Parish.
Effects on daily services and household costs
Approval would allow the authority to replace two aging pumps at the 17th Street station by 2029, reducing the risk of interior flooding during 25-year storm events. Rejection would leave the current millage in place and require the authority to defer two scheduled drainage ditch cleanings in the Lower Ninth Ward. The city budget office estimates that each deferred cleaning adds $420,000 in emergency response costs after heavy rainfall.
Construction firms holding current contracts with the authority would receive the majority of new work orders. Fixed-income residents in Lakeview and Gentilly would absorb the largest per-household increase because of higher property values. The legislation states that revenue cannot be used for non-flood projects such as street resurfacing outside drainage corridors.
Ballots will be mailed to registered voters beginning October 15. Early voting opens October 20 at the New Orleans Public Library main branch on Loyola Avenue. Results are scheduled for certification by the Orleans Parish Board of Elections Supervisors on November 20.