(The Center Square) − New Orleans’ Department of Sanitation told the City Council its 2026 budget proposal would force deep cuts to core services and slow response times citywide, pointing to an $18.8 million reduction from this year’s spending plan.
Budget documents show the department’s total general fund request would fall from $71.24 million adopted for 2025 to $52.45 million in 2026, a decrease driven largely by an $18.68 million drop in operating costs. Personal services would dip slightly, from $4.82 million to $4.71 million.
The department said the plan includes reductions to unclassified pay that they believe will damage morale and make it harder to retain staff…