The Taylor Opportunity Program for Students is one of the most bloated entitlement programs in the state. If true conservatives comprised the Louisiana House of Representatives and State Senate, they would support serious spending reform.
How long can we as taxpayers keep supporting these money-sucking leeches? I’m talking, of course, about rich people.
According to The Advocate, from 2003-2014 112,722 TOPS recipients came from families with annual income under $100,000. In that same time period, 54,680 TOPS recipients came from incomes above $100,000.
Stop and think about that for a second. The richest people in the state send their kids to school on the backs of hiked cigarette taxes and welfare cuts.
Let’s do some math real quick. Don’t worry, English majors, I won’t make you break out the calculator.
I assume most of the wealthier TOPS recipients attend LSU or a private university like Loyola University New Orleans or Tulane University. For the sake of argument, however, let’s just look at the average amount of money awarded to TOPS recipients from 2003-2014: $3,085.40, according to a date from the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance..
So, a low-ball estimate of how much money TOPS would’ve saved by cutting off those families who earn $100,000 or more ends up at nearly $169 million.
Even if the state cut off only those recipients whose families make $150,000 or more, the state would’ve saved $71 million.
That’s nothing close to the almost $2 billion expected deficit in the state budget for fiscal year 2016-2017, but it’s nothing to sneeze at. With average TOPS awards rising as colleges continue to raise tuition, those savings could be much higher in the future.
I’m not saying wealthy TOPS recipients didn’t earn the benchmark standardized test scores or get a good enough GPA to deserve the money. They probably worked hard to get where they are.
However, to pretend that wealthy students don’t have an advantage when it comes to standardized tests is to ignore reality. According to data from College Board, who designs the SAT, college-bound high school seniors from wealthier families can have a nearly 400-point advantage on the SAT. It makes sense, those students have the money to afford tutors and free-time to study for the test.
This is not class warfare. This is a matter of what we ought to prioritize as a society: subsidizing the rich or keeping our government financially solvent.
There has to be an understanding the state cannot supplement the incomes of its wealthiest citizens while so many poorer citizens live paycheck to paycheck.
This is nearly the same argument why Louisiana should get rid of business tax credits to large corporations. Unlike large corporations who promise jobs, large salaries and sustained economic growth to Louisiana residents, taxpayers get absolutely nothing in return from subsidizing the college students from wealthy families.
In fact, there is no compelling evidence to show TOPS keeps high-achieving students in the state. I know I’ve considered packing my bags for Houston or Atlanta after I graduate.
Both conservatives and liberals in the legislature can get behind this. We can cut government waste while ensuring the most vulnerable in the state still get to access vital government resources.
Jack Richards is a mass communication junior from New Orleans, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @jayellrichy