Shawn Wilson Archives - Louisiana Budget Project

September 25, 2018

Don’t squander the budget surplus

The state’s $300 million budget surplus, spurred by higher-than-expected corporate and personal income tax collections and a small bump in oil and gas taxes, has prompted hand-wringing from some conservatives who now say that tax renewals that helped stabilize this year’s budget were unnecessary.

Number of the Day

5.9 - Percentage increase in personal income in Louisiana in the second fiscal quarter of 2018. (Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce)

October 12, 2017

The bipartisan budget retreat

Louisiana lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are meeting today in Baton Rouge for a retreat organized by House GOP Chair Lance Harris and House Democratic Caucus Leader Gene Reynolds.

Number of the Day

$13.1 billion - The current transportation construction project backlog (Source: Department of Transportation and Development via The Advocate)

March 16, 2017

Budget instability leads to credit downgrade

Citing several major red flags in the state’s financial situation, Standard and Poor’s downgraded Louisiana’s credit rating from AA to AA- on Wednesday.

March 1, 2017

The work of tax reform begins

After the completion of a nine-day special legislative session and the release of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ executive budget that left some $440 million of state priorities unfunded, attention now turns to structural tax reform.