When the spring semester began in January, two things loomed over the University — budget cuts and Gov. Bobby Jindal’s prayer rally.
Jindal’s rally, “The Response,” on January 24 drew heat from students and the Faculty Senate. The event itself did not live up to the expectations set by former Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s 2011 event in Houston, failing to fill the PMAC’s seating capacity of 13,215.
The event was held weeks before Jindal unveiled his plan to combat the $103.5 million midyear budget shortfall. The plan, announced Feb. 6, included $60.66 million in departmental cuts, though higher education was not affected at the time.
The midyear cut was caused by a shortfall in the current year’s budget. The cuts currently being discussed by the Louisiana State Legislature would take place in the next year.
Higher education was expected to take a $200-$300 million hit for the next fiscal year to cut into the $1.4 billion budget deficit.
“These cuts would be devastating if they are to the extent indicated,” said Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope in January. “I would say that everything would be different. It would be amazing if the University could even stay in business.”
Currently, the state’s budget deficit is approximately $1.6 billion. According to LSU Budget Hub, cuts to higher education total $608 million, but the governor’s budget proposal in February highlighted $372 million in tax credit changes that could help offset the reductions.
In addition to Jindal’s executive budget, there are many bills currently being considered by the Louisiana State Legislature that could impact higher education.
Proposed legislation deals with tuition autonomy, allowing the state higher education boards to set tuition and fees for its universities. House Bills 61, 62, 66, 152 and 168, as well as Senate Bill 155 all relate to tuition autonomy.
Senate Bill 18 would help the University reduce the amount lost to retirement payments by creating a more predictable pay schedule, allowing administrators to better plan the education budget.
House Bill 323 would establish a state constitutional amendment to create a baseline for higher education funding. The appropriations for higher education could not dip below the 2013-2014 mark without legislative approval, ensuring student tuition increases go toward bettering the University and not covering cuts.
There is some opposition to protecting the higher education budget, said University executive director of policy and external affairs Jason Droddy in April. He said he expects the legislation to make some headway during the current session.
“I will say that there is a lot of groups against dedication,” Droddy said. “However, there is a lot of sympathy for higher education and for students, so where a lot of dedications might not be considered, this one probably will make it at least halfway through the process, if not all the way.”
The bills, as well as the final budget, will be decided on by the end of the current legislative session, which will adjourn June 11.
With Jindal’s term ending in 2015, the state will elect a new governor October 24. Declared Republican candidates include U.S. Sen. David Vitter, former Lt. Gov. Scott Angelle and Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne.
The declared Democratic candidates are state Rep. John Bel Edwards and minister Jeremy Odom.
A poll by MarblePort Polling conducted in March showed Vitter leading with 34 percent with Edwards a close second at 31 percent.