Gov. Bobby Jindal’s budget hasn’t eased concerns that Louisiana’s colleges could face steep cuts next year because the proposal relies on financing plans that appear far from certain to gain passage with lawmakers.
The Associated Press reports much of the funding Jindal proposes to pay for higher education, $372 million, depends on scaling back certain tax break programs, which would need legislative approval. Businesses already are pushing back on a sizable portion of that recommendation.
Another slice of financing totaling $211 million would require lawmakers to sift through a list of money-generating ideas that aren’t included in the budget or offer other ideas of their own. The dollars would need separate legislative approvals.
If lawmakers and the governor don’t settle on ways to raise annual revenue streams, higher education faces a worst-case scenario of losing up to $583 million in state financing next year—more than 63% of the state general fund money it receives this year.
Jindal and lawmakers are grappling with a $1.6 billion budget shortfall next year, so they need to drum up new sources of cash if they want to continue paying for many of the state’s programs and services.
College system leaders greeted the release of Jindal’s budget proposal on Friday with differing reactions, some seeming more worried than others.
