gasoline tax
September 10, 2018
It’s been rumored for months, but late last week it became official: Gov. John Bel Edwards plans to seek a $1,000 per year salary increase for public school teachers next year, with lower raises for school support workers.
Number of the Day
$170 million - Projected annual cost of giving Louisiana’s public school employees - including teachers, supervisors and support workers - a 3.65 percent pay raise needed to reach the Southern regional average. (Source: The Advocate)August 14, 2017
Louisiana has one of the most generous college scholarship programs in the country - TOPS - which covers in-state tuition for anyone who finishes high school with a 2.5 grade point average and a 20 or above on their ACT. But as The Advocate’s Mark Ballard reports, it’s a different story for students in the state’s community and technical colleges.
Number of the Day
$1.5 billion - State budget shortfall estimate for 2018-19 fiscal year (Source: Office of Planning and Budget via AP)August 11, 2017
While Congress is under pressure to produce a comprehensive infrastructure bill - one of the few ideas that could gain bipartisan support on Capitol Hill - actions at the state level are far more likely to impact the roads and bridges people use every day.