Governor Jindal is instructing state agency heads to make across the board cuts to reduce a $248 million deficit. All budgets will receive the lesser of either 7.5% reduction of general fund dollars or 3% reduction of all financing means. Jindal refuses to raise taxes saying instead government must tighten its belt.
The two largest cuts are $108,056,551 to Health and Hospitals along with $83,961,506 to Higher Education.
State representative Juan LaFonta thinks Jindal could have avoided much of the cuts by dipping deeper into the rainy day fund last year when he could. He would also like to see a constitutional amendment to spread cuts so the burden does not always fall disproportionately on DHH and higher education.
Other cuts outlined by Jindal: Executive Department $7,740,854; Veterans Affairs $637,278; Secretary of State $1,632,209; Attorney General $619,232; Lieutenant Governor; $122,053; State Treasurer $46,881; Agriculture $1,554,442; Economic Development $1,714,480; Culture Recreation and Tourism $2,188,047; Transportation $132,296; Public Safety $2,740,923; Health and Hospitals $108,056,551; Social Services $14,129,547; Natural; Resources $375,881; Revenue $1,060,656; Environmental Quality $321,667; Workforce Commission $137,514; Wildlife and Fisheries $7,561; Ethics Administration $127,407; State Police Commission $19,671; Division of Administrative Law $29,306; Higher Education $83,961,506; Special Schools and Commissions $16,077,548; LA Healthcare Services Division $2,454,084; District Attorneys and ADAs $913,868; LA Health Insurance Association $60,000; Governor's Conferences and Interstate Compacts $16,000; State Aid to Local Government Entities $1,034,447.
