BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Latest on the governor’s budget-rebalancing proposal (all times local):
7:20 p.m.
Less than one-third of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ deficit-closing plan would involve budget cuts to state agencies.
The governor’s plan, released Monday, would use $119 million from the “rainy day” fund and about $100 million in other financing to help close the $304 million deficit.
Dollars from better-than-expected fee collections would be used to fill gaps. Money allocated to the legislative auditor’s office to pay for a new office building would instead fill budget holes. The health department would get $44 million in higher-than-anticipated tobacco tax collections to replace other state financing.
Lawmakers will consider the proposals in a 10-day special session that begins Feb. 13.
Edwards is seeking to shield K-12 education, colleges, prisons and the child welfare agency from cuts. The largest reduction would hit the health department.
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4:30 p.m.
Gov. John Bel Edwards’ proposal to close Louisiana’s $304 million deficit relies heavily on using the state “rainy day” fund and making cuts to the health department.
The Democratic governor released his budget-rebalancing proposal Monday. Lawmakers will consider it in a 10-day special session that begins Feb. 13.
Edwards seeks to shield K-12 education, colleges, prisons and the child welfare agency from slashing. But he suggests stripping dollars from a wide array of agencies, like the Office of Juvenile Justice, the judiciary, legislative agencies and the state police.
Nearly $128 million in cuts and financing adjustments would fall on the health department.
The governor wants to use more than $119 million from the rainy day fund.
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