In a move to uphold fiscal transparency, the City of New Orleans has publicly welcomed an additional audit by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor. The city, already undergoing regular checks by the auditing firm Carr, Riggs & Ingram (CRI), expressed confidence in the state of their financial affairs. This assurance comes in a formal statement following a request for further scrutiny from the New Orleans City Council.
The annual reports submitted to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor are the fruits of a partnership with CRI, selected by the City Council back in 2022. However, the City Council's recent call for a deeper review has led the Department of Finance to openly invite the extra oversight. The department insists they have nothing to hide and is committed to fully cooperating in disclosing all financial records. "The City of New Orleans participates in an annual audit conducted by Carr, Riggs & Ingram," the statement from the City of New Orleans, positioning transparency at the heart of their operations.
These assurances by city officials come amidst increased calls for accountability and transparent governance from various civic groups and constituents. By opening up its books to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, the City of New Orleans is signaling its intent to maintain public trust in fiscal matters.
Meanwhile, the Department of Finance stands firm in its commitment, prepared to transparently provide any and all documentation required by the Legislative Auditor. "At the request of the New Orleans City Council, the Department of Finance welcomes the Louisiana Legislative Auditor to review all of the City's financial records," according to the City of New Orleans official statement. This step is set to ensure that all municipal financial undertakings are up to par with the stringent regulations and to rigorously reaffirm their adherence to principled financial management.
