Budget battle begins in state legislature

For the first time in nearly a decade, the Louisiana Legislature will not toggle with the idea of cutting funding for the state’s Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS). However, as the budget hearings began Monday, there was another battle starting to be waged.
Much of the debate in the House Appropriations Committee revolved around how tax revenue is expected to pour into state coffers. The Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) forecasts increased tax revenues will be collected this year because of an improving economy, but Republican lawmakers in Baton Rouge rejected that idea and are waiting for more accurate estimates.
The estimates initially rejected by Republicans call for an additional $90 to $130 million coming into the general fund.
The proposed budget includes teacher pay raises and will wind its way through the legislative process in a regular session that begins Monday, April 8.