NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans is set to end the year with a deficit that,

The deficit means city leaders are finding ways to trim next year’s budget. “The administration has shown, on paper, that it's going to be $200 million less,” said Council Member Joe Giarrusso, who heads the council’s Budget Committee.

At the first hearing, the first of many city department heads presented their 2026 spending plans to the City Council. All but one ended their presentations with lists of what their departments would need to sacrifice under a tighter budget.

The Department of Finance, for example, warned that paychecks and vendor payments could be delayed. The Chief Administrative Office argued hiring would be slowed and city services made less efficient.

“There’s a lot of things that our r

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