Louisiana tax revenue surge eyed for colleges, coast, roads

More than $400 million in unspent cash from Louisiana’s better-than-expected tax collections would pay for roadwork, coastal protection projects and public college programs, among a long list of spending plans under debate by lawmakers.

The package of budget bills would plug gaps in the TOPS college tuition program, pay down debts, steer money to legal judgments owed by the state and cover the fire marshal's overtime for investigating the burnings of three black churches in St. Landry Parish.

Dollars would be invested in computer upgrades, socked into a savings account and steered to lawmakers' favored local projects. Much of the spending matches recommendations made by Gov. John Bel Edwards.

WHERE'S THE MONEY FROM?

Louisiana had a $308 million surplus from the budget year that ended June 30, dollars limited in use by the state constitution. The state also has another $110 million in unbudgeted money for the current year, based on revised tax collection estimates.

Read more: https://www.nola.com/news/2019/05/louisiana-tax-revenue-surge-eyed-for-colleges-coast-roads.html