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City seeks legal opinion after mayor's office spent over $50,000 in general funds on fliers

The City's CAO Gilbert Montano clarified that he is unsure of the legality of what occurred.

NEW ORLEANS — The City Council is seeking a legal opinion after a letter from the city's CAO Gilbert Montano to the New Orleans City Councilmembers-at large revealed that the mayor's office spent over $50,000 from a general fund to distribute political fliers.

According to Montano, payment for postage costed $32,623.07 and the fliers being printed costed $18,322.95, totaling $50,946.02 across both payments.

Montano also clarified in the letter that he is unaware of the legality of the situation, stating that the Office of Communication was investigating. He also directed the city council to ask the City Attorney any follow up questions.

Typically, political postings are paid for with campaign finances.

City Council Vice President Helena Moreno released a statement on the matter:

"This political mailer is an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars. Now, we are learning that it did not receive any legal approval to be sent. Since no one has provided evidence of its legality, it is in the public interest for the mayor's team to reimburse the city for all costs associated with the mailer."

   

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