LA GATOR funding, salary increases for judges cut from state budget

(The Center Square) − The Louisiana Senate Finance Committee advanced a package of budget bills with amendments that cut some education spending and shift money toward infrastructure, economic development and local government projects.

“We are working to adjust and calm state agencies’ budget growth, being careful to rein in future costs, so that we can stay within a standstill budget” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Glen Womack, R-Harrisonburg. “There is some really good legislation out there that we are simply having to delay for now, due to financial constraints.”

The changes came after the Revenue Estimating Conference lowered the state’s official forecast by $112 million for the current fiscal year and $104 million for the next fiscal year. The reductions forced lawmakers to trim recurring expenses in the spending plan, according to committee testimony.

The Senate amendments to House Bill 1 would eliminate new funding for the Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to...