New Orleans neighborhood district would organize local improvements

A district board would manage neighborhood improvement work and district business. The district would cover the area bounded by St. Bernard Avenue, North Claiborne Avenue, Elysian Fields Avenue, St. Claude Avenue, and Joseph Guillaume Place. The board would have five members: two neighborhood association officers and three district residents elected by district residents. Board members would serve without pay and follow public meeting, public records, and government ethics rules. The district's authority would begin when the measure becomes effective.

The City of New Orleans could collect a yearly fee from parcels in the district. The fee would apply to residential, commercial, mixed-use, and unimproved parcels in the district, with the parcel owner responsible for payment. District voters would have to approve the fee before the city could impose it. The board would set the fee by resolution, subject to the stated maximums. Residential and improved commercial parcels could be charged up to $100 per year; unimproved parcels up to $500; and improved mixed-use parcels up to $200. Certain owners receiving both a homestead exemption and a special assessment level would owe no fee. The fee could last only for the period approved by voters, up to eight years, and could be renewed only through another voter-approved authorization.

The city would collect unpaid fees with property taxes and use the proceeds for district purposes. The rules would apply to any fee imposed under this district authority. Unpaid fees could be added to city tax rolls and enforced like unpaid property taxes. The city could keep one percent as a collection fee. Money would be used only for the district, and district-funded personnel and services would supplement rather than replace city services. The district would adopt an annual budget and be subject to legislative auditor review. These collection, spending, budgeting, and audit rules would apply while the fee and district authority are in effect.