Jindal’s $24.7 billion budget proposal unveiled

Gov. Bobby Jindal’s $24.7 billion budget proposal for next year pours hundreds of millions in patchwork funding into public colleges and assumes hefty savings from the privatization of LSU hospitals to make the numbers work. The governor’s spending plan for the 2013-14 fiscal year was unveiled to lawmakers today by Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols, who described it as a challenge to close a more than $1 billion gap. “We made every effort we can to be smart about the way we deliver services in government,” Nichols told the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget. Jindal’s budget assumes millions of dollars in property sales, savings from legislation that hasn’t passed, and the management turnover of most LSU public hospitals to private facilities to stay in balance. Lawmakers, weary of five years of budget deficits, questioned those assumptions and pressed for more details about the uncertain financing. “What if the property sales don’t happen or any of those types of contingencies? Are we going to be faced with another midyear budget cut?” asked House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles. “We have not put anything in the budget that isn’t expected to fully materialize,” said Nichols, responding to a question about an assumption about the privatization of a Monroe hospital—for which a deal has yet to be announced. Release of the proposal marks the start of legislative budget negotiations. House budget committee hearings are set to open March 12. Jindal’s office has prepared an overview of the budget that you can check out here.