Lawmakers dedicate savings money to aerospace programs, sound systems

(The Center Square) — Louisiana lawmakers moved $800 million out of the state’s Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund and carved out $81 million for a new fund that is being used to pay for hundreds of local and statewide projects.The new fund, called the Strategic Investments Across Louisiana Fund, includes roughly $77.8 million spread across more than 300 local projects, according to budget documents.The spending comes as lawmakers declined to put additional money into the state’s LA GATOR education savings account program, which would have received an extra $44 million, and as teachers are set to lose a $2,000 stipend they received in recent years after voters rejected Amendment 3 last weekend.The projects funded through the new strategic investment fund range widely.To name just a few, the amendments include: $1 million for the LSU AgCenter, $400,000 for arts and festivals through the Cultural Development Program; $400,000 for start-up costs at a behavioral health Crisis Center in Shreveport; $4...