Council seeks more information on proposal to raise Entergy's franchise fees to fund streetlight repairs
Members of a New Orleans City Council committee listened but took no action Tuesday on a proposal by Mayor Landrieu to fund streetlight repairs and replacement.
The proposal involves increasing Entergy's street use franchise fees by 2 percent. The fee hike would be passed on to Entergy customers who would pay an average of $2 to $3 more a month.
"The proposed franchise fee gives us the opportunity and the flexibility to do something dramatic to make a substantial improvement to the system that is fiscally responsible and sustainable," an administration official told the Council.
But councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell expressed skepticism about the proposal, saying "it does not make sense to me to pour this kind of money down a broke system if you don't have a plan for replacing that system."
Council members asked administration officials to return to them later with more information.
