(The Center Square) — New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno’s proposed 2027 budget would eliminate 75% of the Department of Sanitation’s authorized positions, laying off 37 employees, as the city attempts to close a roughly $100 million budget gap.
The department faces the elimination of 55 of its 73 authorized positions, leaving just 18. Sanitation Director Matt Tori warned that the reductions would eliminate enforcement capabilities, reduce customer service and force a transition from seven-day to five-day operations.
Among the positions affected are laborers responsible for litter removal, emptying public trash cans, graffiti removal, pressure washing and cleaning homeless encampments. Equipment operators who remove illegally dumped materials, operate street sweepers and clean roadways and bridges would also be affected…