Gov. explains budget cuts for Louisiana
Bobby Jindal, the governor of Louisiana, finally released the budget for the state of Louisiana on Monday.
The $24.9 billion budget next year could force 2,000 workers to lose their jobs, boost retirement costs for state employees and assumes the sale of three state prisons.
The reasoning behind the cut is for Louisiana to cut down on financial deficit in the state.
The deficit that Jindal is trying to close the gap on is a $1.6 billion for the fiscal year starting July 1.
“This is a budget that is leaner, that is smarter. We’re being more efficient with taxpayers’ dollars,” Jindal said.
With those dollars, Jindal said more than 4, 000 employee jobs would be eliminated to save $96 million, but half of those jobs are currently already vacant.
The cuts also proposed to eliminate programs for troubled youths and force service reductions at state parks and the Louisiana State University hospital system.
Along with that, the state workers would pay more toward their pension plans, and community arts programs would be chopped.
Brandon Neal, a senior computer science major, said the cuts are going to make some people discourage.
“The simple fact that people may be out of a job next year is a big pill to swallow. The cuts get deeper and deeper every time,” Neal said.
Legislators are questioning the $1 billion in cuts and “efficiencies” in many programs and $474 million in one-time revenue to make up a shortfall of about $1.5 billion.
