Faced with a deficit of $50,000 to $60,000 a month, the Marksville City Council decided to “spread out the pain” as much as possible at its special meeting Nov. 3, but still had to lay off seven employees to reach the “magic number” to address its budget crisis.
Angela Cassimere handles a computer with the proposed St. Landry Parish School Board budget projected in the background at a special School Board meeting Monday in Opelousas. Cassimere is supervisor of instruction, school choice, and school improvement. Photo by Harlan Kirgan)
The St. Landry Parish School Board budget scheduled for a vote today shows an eroding general fund balance.
Gov. John Bel Edwards in the well of the House chamber during happier times. Credit: Samuel Carter Karlin
Some House Republicans, wary of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ budget figures and reluctant to raise more taxes, are questioning whether the state truly has a $600 million shortfall, with one legislator estimating the shortfall could be up to half that figure.
A bill on the Senate floor Wednesday took aim at budget deficits and state funding as a $600 million deficit and an expected second special session to raise taxes looms on the legislative horizon.
Gov. John Bel Edwards
Four safety net hospitals in Bogalusa, Lake Charles, Alexandria and Houma and 30,000 college students are the losers in Gov. John Bel Edwards’ executive budget presented to the House Appropriations Committee Tuesday.
