NORD's self-funded revenue falls to $273,000, less than half of prior years

The New Orleans Recreation and Development Commission, or NORD, has collected $273,000 in self-generated funds this year. That total represents less than half of the amount the agency typically raises by this point in previous years. The shortfall creates immediate pressure on the agency's operating costs as it prepares for a new leadership transition this winter.

Officials attribute the decline to a drop in athletic registration fees, food concession sales, and facility rentals. Poor collection practices also contributed to the loss. NORD plans to address these collection issues in 2027. The fund includes revenue from summer camps and parking for major festivals like Mardi Gras and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. It generated nearly $500,000 in both 2024 and 2025.

Emily Oliver, the NORD communications director, stated that current figures are not final. She noted that the year-over-year revenue gap is expected to narrow by the end of 2026. The agency recently appointed Patrice Bell as its new CEO, and she starts on December 1. Bell takes over an organization that has faced recent criticism regarding communication with residents, background checks, and park conditions.

The self-generated fund supports maintenance and operations, making up a small portion of the department's $22 million budget. Officials are now considering increasing facility fees in 2027. These potential changes come amid calls for stronger oversight of the cash-based money NORD collects. In September, the New Orleans Office of Inspector General reported that NORD failed to collect registration fees across athletic programs. That oversight failure resulted in an annual loss of about $150,000.

Facility rentals showed the largest drop in revenue according to the agency's budget proposal. Lost opportunities at Morris F.X. Jeff Stadium were the primary cause. The stadium on the Algiers side underwent a $1 million renovation this year that included new synthetic turf, goal posts, and updated seating. NORD will also lose future facility revenue from the stadium under a new 10-year agreement with the InspireNOLA charter school network.

Under that agreement, Inspire pays no rental fees for the stadium. In exchange, the school network operates and maintains the fields from Thursday through Sunday. NORD remains responsible for utilities and maintenance from Monday through Wednesday. An Inspector General report found that about 75% of teams did not submit registration fees in the first half of 2025. This data raised concerns about the department's oversight of its collections.

Natasha Robinson, the NORD Interim CEO, told City Council members at a recent budget hearing that the agency is finalizing an increased rental fee schedule for next year. Any proposed changes will go to the City Council for consideration. NORD has not adjusted rental fees since 2014. The agency budgeted $1.6 million in anticipated self-generating revenue for 2027. This figure relies on higher fees and better collection methods, though the budget has remained at this level since 2024.