NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – The Orleans Parish Sheriff met with the New Orleans City Council Tuesday, saying he needs millions of dollars to cover costs through the end of the year and for 2016.
The council called for a special meeting after Sheriff Marlin Gusman revealed at a status conference last week, that his office would not be able to make payroll unless given money by Tuesday, requesting at least $3.5 million to cover this week’s payroll and other expenses through 2015.
At their last meeting, the City Council’s Budget Committee approved giving the sheriff’s office $2.8 million to cover costs through 2015.
Now the Sheriff Gusman says he needs more money, bringing the total to $6.3 million for the rest of this year.
Council members say they’re obviously concerned over that number and the fact that it was brought up so abruptly.
“We’re frustrated. We were having a special city council meeting to have him explain how it is that he does not have controls in place, such that he would blow pass his budget this seriously,” Councilwoman Susan Guidry said.
Sheriff Gusman told WGNO before the meeting began, that the city underfunded the 2015 budget from the beginning. Saying that this is not the first time the city council has had to deal with a time crunch. Adding that he hopes the city council will appropriate the proper amount for 2016.
After the council addressed the fiscal issue, the normally scheduled meeting for the sheriff’s office 2016 budget would take place. Mayor Mitch Landrieu proposed a $44 million budget, but Sheriff Gusman says they need at least $15 million more dollars than that for the coming year.
The council is supposed to vote on all budget amendments and recommendations by Thursday November, 19. The deadline to approve the budget is December 1.