The budget passed by the legislature in the waning moments of the special session has higher education advocates terrified that substantial cuts could be on their way. With no tax bill passed, TOPS will be reduced to 70 percent, and higher ed will be cut by 20 percent. Louisiana Budget Project Executive Director Jan Moller says it’s not just college students who will bear the brunt of the cuts.
Cut 9 (13) “completely unessecary”
Fiscal conservatives are applauding the actions by House Republicans who blocked passage of the sales tax bill. Americans for Prosperity State Director John Kay says it’s time to reduce state spending
A tax bill that renewed half of the expiring penny sales tax, and fully funded higher ed, healthcare, and TOPS failed 64-40, came just six votes short of passage.
A budget approved by lawmakers in the final hour of the second special session hits higher ed, and TOPS particularly hard. President of the University of Louisiana System Dr. Jim Henderson the TOPS cut is devastating to kids who rely on the scholarship program.
Cut 5 (11) “…we as a state want to send.”
So what options does the governor have now after a sales tax bill failed to get approval that would replace over 500-million dollars in expiring taxes? Political consultant Roy Fletcher says the governor may have to accept the House plan, which would set the sales tax rate at 4.3 percent after July 1st…
With the fiscal year ending June 30th, we await the governor’s call for a third special session.