Will Sentell Archives - Page 3 of 10 - Louisiana Budget Project

May 2, 2018

What to do when TOPS is underfunded?

The House version of next year’s budget funds the TOPS scholarship program at only 80 percent of current year funding.

Number of the Day

167 - Average annual percentage interest rate (APR) for a new predatory payday loan product that would be authorized by legislation passed by the Louisiana Senate on Tuesday evening. Current law caps interest rates at 36 percent APR. (Source: Center for Responsible Lending)

March 15, 2018

The midyear deficit that wasn’t

Cowed by years of lower-than-expected tax collections for state government, Gov. John Bel Edwards asked state agencies to set aside $60 million last year in case another mid-year shortfall materialized. But this year’s budget is actually running a surplus, so Edwards is allowing agencies to spend the money.

Number of the Day

$4.3 billion - Amount of money in state general fund dollars for the coming year that are dictated by the state Constitution and other laws. (Source: The Advocate)

February 21, 2018

The Ways to be Mean Committee

The House Ways and Means Committee spent several hours Tuesday hearing testimony on various tax bills, yet no clear path emerged on how lawmakers will replace some of the $1.4 billion in revenues that expire on June 30.

Number of the Day

6 percent - Maximum growth for expenditure limit proposed in House Bill 12 (Source: House Legislative Services)

February 20, 2018

Edwards seeks tax compromise

Gov. John Bel Edwards kicked off another special session of the Legislature on Monday - his fifth since taking office in early 2016 - by calling for his Republican critics to join him in a compromise plan to stabilize the state budget by replacing most of the tax revenue that expires on June 30.

Number of the Day

$49,244 - Average teacher pay in Louisiana, compared to $50,949 for the Southern region and $58,064 nationally (Source: The Advocate)