Though Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Nov. 21 the taking of $4.9 million from the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students to help close the state’s $180 million midyear budget gap, the fund reallocation will not harm students on TOPS, said University director of external affairs Jason Droddy.
“There is an overage in the TOPS account that is not being used,” Droddy said. “No students are going to be affected by this.”
The state is not bringing in its expected revenue to support the $25 billion budget for fiscal year 2014-15. TOPS was one of the many areas of state funding the Jindal administration pulled from to close the deficit. 
The University received no drop in funding in this round of midyear cuts. 
Apart from fiscal year 2013-14, midyear budget cuts have been made consecutively for the past six years. 
Higher education and health care are two of the most unprotected areas in the state budget, because funds are often reallocated from those areas to close midyear budget gaps.
In fiscal year 2012-13, the state slashed the University’s funding by about $3.4 million in midyear budget cuts. 
Jindal also announced a continued freeze on non-essential public spending.
Droddy said the University’s saved funds from the freeze would not go directly toward the budget shortfall.
“It’s a precautionary measure,” Droddy said. “It would be available if they needed it.”
Jindal’s plan eliminates 167 vacant government jobs to help fill the budget gap. 
Roughly $32 million will come from the funds collected in the state’s tax amnesty program this year.
Louisiana’s tax amnesty program allows neglectful taxpayers to settle their debts in installments with half the normal interest rate and no additional penalties. 
This year’s budget extends through June 30, 2015.