(The Center Square) − The New Orleans Health Department is anticipating significant cuts to core health and human services, risking slower emergency responses and fewer supports for families, the department’s said on Tuesday.

Jennifer Avegno, the department director, said Tuesday a $3 million cut is difficult to make.

“We spent the last several months awake in the middle of the night wondering how we were going to make this work,” she said. “We are going to try within limits to spread out the cut, so that one we don’t have to cut a single program.  I don’t think I could do it if you asked me to choose between moms and babies or mental health or violence prevention or food.”

According to department, funds would fall from $13 million this year to $9.49 million next year, a drop of about $3.52 million. Most of the reduction is in day-to-day operating money, with a smaller cut to payroll that also eliminates one vacant position and trims unclassified pay.

Non-General Fund dollars – largely federal grants – would decrease from $53.77 million to $46.49 million, about $7.28 million less, as pandemic-era aid and other federal funds roll off.

In all, the department would operate with roughly $10.8 million less than in 2025.

The cuts would touch several high-impact programs, the department said.

They warn crisis teams could take longer to respond to mental health and domestic violence emergencies. Nurse home visiting services would not be able to reach every family after childbirth.

Violence interruption work would shrink, reducing interventions and support for victims and families. And help with basic needs, such as food security, would be scaled back at the same time other safety-net programs are being dismantled.