A smart budget choice:
Tell lawmakers to use the state’s Rainy Day Fund!
Our state is facing a mid-year budget crisis. Revenues are $304 million short of what is needed for a balanced budget. By law, this must be corrected before the 2016-17 fiscal year ends on June 30.
Gov. John Bel Edwards is calling a special session for February 13-22, giving legislators and the public an opportunity to weigh in on the important choices that must be made.
The governor’s plan, released on February 6, does not call for new taxes, but would allow increases to some fees to be determined by the legislature.
He proposes spending $119 million from the state’s $359 million “rainy day fund” to help balance the budget. That is a savings account funded with mineral revenues. It exists to help stabilize the budget during tough financial times – like this one.
The remaining cuts would still be painful, the governor said, but not as bad. His plan would preserve public education, family services and the department of corrections.