Though Gov. Jindal announced taking $4.9 million from the Taylor Opportunity Program 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.”

Jindal also announced a continued freeze on non-essential public spending.

Droddy said the University’s saved funds would not go toward the budget shortfall.

“It’s a precautionary measure,” Droddy said. “It would be available if they needed it.”

Jindal’s plan will also eliminate 167 vacant government jobs, saving roughly $12 million to fill the budget gap. Fourteen of the positions are in the state’s Department of Education.
Roughly $30 million will come from the funds collected in the state’s tax amnesty program this year.