Louisiana is expected to be more than $27 million short of what it owes the New Orleans Saints and Hornets next year, to meet the state’s contractual obligations to the pro sports teams. The money is supposed to come from the budget of the commission that oversees the Louisiana Superdome and the New Orleans Arena. But Doug Thornton, senior vice president of SMG, the company that manages the facilities, say that budget won’t nearly cover the costs. That leaves state lawmakers and the Jindal administration to decide whether they want to use the state’s general tax income to cover the shortfall. And that decision comes amid a hefty budget shortfall projected for the state next year. If the state doesn’t meet the payments required by the contracts, the Saints and Hornets could leave the city. —-Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at [email protected]