The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released a report finding the New Orleans Department of Safety and Permits (S&P) did not implement adequate protocols for inspections performed by City-licensed third party inspectors. The audit also found that third party inspectors failed to comply with the S&P policies and procedures that were in place, leaving the City vulnerable to significant public safety hazards and litigation.
The New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released a public letter recommending the City of New Orleans (City) increase oversight of City funds disbursed to outside agencies. OIG auditors found that, despite a recent ordinance increasing oversight, the City still received limited information regarding millions of dollars in City money disbursed to outside agencies. The City’s 2025 adopted budget allocated approximately $123 million to these agencies.
The New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) released an Audit Report regarding Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO) Off-Duty Details and Mardi Gras Pay.
The purpose of this letter is to promote efficiency and effectiveness specific to the Sewerage & Water Board’s (S&WB) billing process for residential customers. The OIG found that S&WB did not accurately calculate the Sewer Volume Charge for many residential customers, resulting in overcharges on their monthly bills. The OIG recommended S&WB make immediate corrective actions, including determining the cause of the miscalculation and crediting all customer accounts impacted by the error. The OIG also recommended S&WB should conduct routine internal audits to verify customers receive accurate bills.
“The S&WB recently reported that customer accounts delinquent more than 30 days totaled approximately $109 million. In order for S&WB to collect delinquent accounts efficiently and effectively, it must first ensure that customers are billed the correct amounts for their monthly usage.”
Edward Michel, Inspector General
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the City of New Orleans (City) conducted a performance audit of the New Orleans East Hospital (NOEH). The objective of the audit was to determine if NOEH credit card expenditures were business-related and allowed by law and if NOEH credit card purchases were compliant with relevant NOEH policy, laws, and other best practices.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) provides an independent and objective assessment of government policies, programs, and operations by conducting audits, evaluations, and investigations. The purpose of this letter is to address concerns regarding overtime pay raised during an ongoing audit. It is the opinion of this office that in order to mitigate waste and promote efficiency by public entities, voluntary hours worked for a premium rate in excess of normal working hours should be excluded when calculating overtime.
It is important that government entities spend public funds in an efficient and effective manner. This includes properly following relevant laws when compensating public employees. This is especially important during Carnival season when many employees work overtime for higher rates of pay. We anticipate this guidance will help these entities properly calculate their overtime pay going forward.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is authorized to comment on rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and transactions for the purpose of preventing fraud, waste, and abuse, or promoting efficient and effective government. This letter addresses the potential benefits of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO) using the City’s existing Budget, Requisition, and Accounting Services System (BRASS) as its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to replace its current, outdated ERP system.
OPSO is charged with providing for the care, custody, control and rehabilitation of inmates, as well as providing the highest level of service and security to the court systems, the execution of court mandates, and the protection of individuals’ rights and freedoms. OPSO receives significant funding from the City. As shown in Figure 1, the City provided $112 million, or approximately 73%, of OPSO’s total operating revenue over the past two budget cycles. The City appropriated $56 million of OPSO’s $76 million budgeted revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 and $56 million of OPSO’s $77 million budgeted revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023.2
On March 16, 2023, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a letter concerning the Mayor’s use of a second-floor apartment unit (Mayor’s Apartment) in the Upper Pontalba Building, which is owned by the City of New Orleans (City). The letter asserted that because the French Market Corporation (FMC) does not collect fair market value rent from the current usage of the Mayor’s Apartment, this arrangement, in the case of personal use by the Mayor, gives the appearance of a donation of public property in possible violation of the Louisiana Constitution. Additionally, the Mayor’s personal use of the apartment is a possible grant of compensation in addition to the salary of the Mayor authorized by City Code and for which the City may not be making the required payroll deductions.
In light of recent events regarding possible overnight stays at the Mayor’s Apartment, the OIG requests that the City Council re-examine the ordinance passed in April 2023. As written, the ordinance does not appear to ensure that the City receives fair market value from the usage of the Mayor’s Apartment. Additionally, the ordinance lacks an enforceable definition of what qualifies as an “overnight stay”.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is authorized to comment on rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and transactions for the purpose of preventing fraud, waste, and abuse, or promoting efficient and effective government. This letter concerns the City’s use of public funds to purchase specialized tires and rims, which totaled $42,270, to replace the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) tires and rims included on new police package vehicles assigned to New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) Commanders.
The purchase was in possible violation of City procurement policy, as well as Louisiana Public Bid Law because it did not comply with the State contract that was used.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the City of New Orleans (City) conducted a performance audit of the Orleans Parish Communication District (OPCD). The objective of the audit was to determine if OPCD credit card expenditures were business-related and allowed by law and if OPCD credit card purchases were compliant with relevant OPCD policy, laws, and other best practices.
