Gov. Bobby Jindal’s $25.5 billion executive budget released Thursday leaves Louisiana’s higher education seemingly unscathed from further cuts, while job layoffs and privatization of public institutions lead Jindal’s efforts to make up for a nearly $900 million budget shortfall.
Jindal’s chief of staff, Stephen Waguespack, announced Wednesday that the governor’s plan would not include cuts to higher education, and the budget’s release confirmed the lack of cuts.
Waguespack said a plan is in the works to add an extra $100 million to each school’s budget, according to the Associated Press, but the decision will be left up to state legislators.
According to The Associated Press, Jindal’s budget relies on the TOPS tuition program growing to $168 million to account for new students and increasing tuition. The budget also doesn’t provide additional funds for the need-based Go Grant program, which was heavily discussed during the LA Governance commission.
The AP also reports that many of the in-state jobs Jindal plans to cut are at public collges. More than 2,700 of the total jobs on the chopping block are currently filled.
In addition to job layoffs, Jindal’s plan includes privatizing some prisons and public services like ferries. Privatization would also result in a loss of thousands of state jobs.
While the budget may have worked in favor of higher education, not everyone is pleased with the outcome.
“This is an unbalanced budget that would kill jobs, raise payroll taxes on hard-working state employees and cut services essential to protecting the middle class and building a strong economy,” said Louisiana Budget Project Director Jan Moller. “We are disappointed that the budget continues the irresponsible pattern of meeting ongoing needs by raiding state funds set aside for specific purposes. Selling and privatizing state assets to meet the state’s obligations is a short-sighted approach that won’t provide the resources we need to invest in schools, transportation, public safety and other necessities for long-term growth.”
 
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Contact Brian Sibille at [email protected]