Gov. Bobby Jindal is proposing a $26.7 billion state budget for next year, with hefty cuts to health care services and public colleges to keep it balanced.The 2009-10 proposal is nearly 10 percent less than the state’s current budget, even with federal stimulus dollars plugged in to fill some of the gaps.Health-care would take a $413 million reduction, and higher education would take a cut of $219 million. The $219 million — or 8 percent — cut to higher education translates into a $34.8 million cut for the University, on top of a $10.3 million mid-year reduction ordered in January, according to LSU System documents released Tuesday.Jindal’s budget recommendations were released to lawmakers Friday, on a day many deemed appropriate for the bad news: Friday the 13th.The state is grappling with a large revenue drop, with an estimated $1.3 billion less in state general fund revenue forecasted for the new budget year that begins July 1 than what the state has this year.Jindal says he’s proposing some office closures and consolidations, the elimination of more than 1,400 government jobs and cuts across state agencies.
Jindal proposes $26.7 billion budget – 3:45 p.m.
March 12, 2009