That's an excellent question and welcome to Free Republic.
Someone will come along who knows the answer to your question.
And...how much do they gain? There should be quite a bit of wealth in that city, and where does it go?
I'll bet they spend as much as they can, including federal money earmarked for levee projects.
The money spent on parades and Mardi Gras parties, is private money. The city will cough up law enforcement, limited to the Quarter most of the time, street cleaning and trash disposal.
I tried to bring up the Cilil/Sheriff's budget but it won't load.
My guess is that tourism makes the Mardi Gras and anything else the city puts on self-funding.
Does the crime rate increase during Mardi Gras?
Looking from the outside in, it always appears to me to be a bit of "controlled anarchy" in it's own rite, so I was wondering if the crime rate increases at that time of year.
I don't know the answer to your question but...I would guess it is a BUNCH. Anyway, that said...welcome to Free Republic where knowledge is power. :)
Dems aren't to blame for the money spent to party. Dems aren't to be blamed for anything. Even to ask a question that might put dems in a bad light is wrong. Remember, it's Bush's fault. /Sarcasm off