Eunice project among capital outlay cuts

More than a quarter of a billion dollars in eliminations and reductions to Louisiana’s capital outlay projects for the fiscal year beginning July 1 were dispatched to the full House on a unanimous vote Monday in the Ways and Means Committee following the introduction of 375 amendments to House Bill 2.
The measure axes approximately $330 million in state funded projects around the state as a result of the dwindling funds for those projects, and prioritizes projects that have already started.
Ways and Means chairman Rep. Neil Abramson, D-New Orleans, said in past years the Louisiana Bond Commission approved cash lines of credit for capital outlay that the state would not be able to repay. 
“If we were going to build a $1.5 billion house, what we have in our checking account to pay for that house is $300 million and we can only borrow $435 million from the bank every two years,” Abramson said. “So we have to prioritize in a way that is fair, transparent and ultimately affordable.”
 If HB2’s cuts are not approved, the state would have a $735 million shortfall for construction projects and would not be able to pay for incoming invoices as state and local outlay ventures get underway.  
Abramson explained to the committee that once a line of credit is approved by the bond commission, the project can begin and an invoice can be sent to the state, despite the possibility that the state cannot pay for it.  
 “People are going to ask ‘Why did you leave a golf course in?’ ‘Why’d you leave something in it rather than a road or bridge?’ It’s because we are halfway through the project and it makes economic sense for us to finish it.”
Members of the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee complained Monday afternoon of a complete lack of communication between the House and Senate on Abramson’s bill.
Abramson attributed the communication issues to a lack of time, stating he only had since last Thursday to work on the bill.  
Sen J.P. Morrell, D-New Orleans, said he’s been fielding phone calls from local governments that have worked for years to come up with matching funds for projects in HB2, only to have those projects axed when amendments were offered up by Abramson.  
“To say I’m troubled by the way this whole thing went down is an understatement,” Morrell said. “The amount of communication that does not take place between these two chambers is chilling.”  
Democratic Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, also from New Orleans, suggested different Reps should carry those bills, instead of the committee chairs.  
“(The bill’s introduction) is not leadership and is certainly not in the cooperative spirit that is necessary in this fiscal crisis,” Peterson said.  
Morrell said the way the House handled HB 2 will have no impact on what the senate will do with those amendments, and changes are expected once the bill reaches the upper chamber.

 Capital outlay projects eliminated or significantly reduced

Central Louisiana
Eliminated
LSU in Alexandria: Sciences Building Renovation, Planning and Construction  
Northwestern State University: Roof Replacements on various campus buildings
Northwestern State University: Renovation of Roy Hall
Lasalle Parish: Third Street Extension and Bridge to Access New Elementary School  
Sabine Parish: Water Treatment and Supply System Study
Vernon Parish: Construction of Pickering School Parking Lot
Vernon Parish: Repair and/or replacement of Catfish Hut Road and Bridge
Vernon Parish: Extension of Potable Water Line to Hutton
Vernon Parish: Extension of Vernon/Fort Polk Thoroughfare Electrical Power Extension
Natchitoches: Construction of the Highland Park Road Bridge
Natchitoches: South Natchitoches drainage improvements
Pleasant Hill: Rehabilitate two elevated water tanks and a water well
Rosepine: Construction of Rosepine Recreational Ball Park Acquisition  
Central Louisiana Detention Center Authority: Construction of the Central Louisiana Juvenile Detention Center
Cane River Waterway Commission: Construction of the Cane River Lake Pumping and funding for the Cane River Lake Drainage Study
Bellwood Water System, INC: Construction of the Bellwood Water System Generator
Grant Parish Fire District #7: Construction of new fire station in Verda
Developmental Institute for Rural and Urban Excellence: Renovation of existing building for educational and health care services  

Major reductions
Northwestern State University: Multipurpose Assembly Center: $1.18 million reduction
Southern Louisiana (Lafayette-Houma-Morgan City region)
Eliminations
Iberia Parish: Robert B. Green Veterans Memorial Building renovation, Expansion project for Robert B. Green American Legion Post 533, Perry Thompson VFW Post 1205
Iberia Parish: Sugar Cane Festival Building Improvements  
Vermilion Parish: Road improvements: $650,000 reduction
Broussard: Reconstruct South Bernard Road from LA Highway 182 to U.S. Highway 90
Broussard: Construction on South Bernard from Ambassador Caffrey to LA Highway 182
Carencro: Construction of Arceneaux Road Drainage Improvements
Crowley: Wastewater Treatment Facility improvements  
Eunice: Construction and replacements to the Cast Iron Gas Line
Grand Coteau: Construction to the Police and Utility Department’s roof, the air conditioning unit for Town Hall, Handheld meter readers and the abandonment and plug of the water well
Grand Coteau: Fire Truck and Fire Station upgrades  
New Iberia: Renovation of West End Park (including the addition of new playground equipment)
Acadia Parish: Construction of Acadia Parish Convention and Visitors Commission Regional Conference Center
Lafayette Parish: Construction of the Louisiana Emergency Medical Unit Medical Storage Facility
Chenier Plain Coastal Restoration and Protection Authority: Stabilization of the Boston Canal/Vermilion Bay Bank
Lafayette Central Park, Inc: Improvements to Lafayette Central Park
St. Mary Parish: Centerville Park recreation and infrastructure improvements
St. Mary Parish: Charenton Beach Road reconstruction
St. Mary Parish: Flattown Road  reconstruction
St. Mary Parish:  Kemper Williams Park recreational improvements and acquisitions  
St. Mary Parish: Construction of New Hospital in Franklin for Hospital Service District 1
St. Mary Parish: Construction of DeGravelle Access Road to Duhon Bypass Road in Amelia  
Terrebonne Parish: Construction of Bayou LaCarpe Watershed Project, Location C.
Terrebonne Parish: Dredging of Bayou Terrebonne
Terrebonne Parish: Renovation of the Le Petit de Terrebonne Theater
Terrebonne Parish: Construction of Bayou Terrebonne Boardwalk  
Terrebonne Parish: Construction of Upper Bayou Dularge Pump Station
Golden Meadow: Replacement of Sewer Lift
Golden Meadow: Upgrade to North Sewerage Treatment Plant
Lockport: Construction and improvements to Lockport Street
Lockport: Lockport Sewer Collection System Rehabilitation
Melville: Construction of a multi-purpose community center
Morgan City: Louisiana Highway 70 drainage improvements  
Morgan City: Water plant improvements
Patterson: Replacement of water and gas meters  

Major reductions
University of Louisiana-Lafayette:  Fletcher Hall Exterior Repairs $818,500 reduction
Terrebonne Parish: Construction and improvements at the Terrebonne Sports Complex--$3.87 mil reduction

 
Southwest Louisiana
Eliminations
Louisiana Community and Technical College System: Renovation of Mechanical Technology building
Louisiana Community and Technical College System: Resurface Campus Parking  
Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District: Relocation of Railroad Tracks along Sallier Street
Jefferson Davis Parish: Third Street West Bridge Repair
Dequincy: Construction of a New City Hall
Dequincy: Drainage improvements on Buxton Creek to prevent erosion at the City Sewer Plant
Lake Charles: Expansion of Southwest Water Treatment Facility
Lake Charles: Construction of Lakefront Development
Lake Charles: Riverside Park improvements and construction  
Merryville: Street improvements
Vinton: Construction of  the Rehab Wastewater Collection System
Westlake: Construction of compressed natural gas fueling station  
Calcasieu Parish Waterworks District #2: Mossville System improvements
Calcasieu Parish: Belfield Ditch Drainage Improvement Project
Waterworks District #1 of Ward #1 of Calcasieu Parish: Tops Road Waterline Improvements
Calcasieu Parish: South Buxton Creek drainage improvements
Calcasieu Parish: Construction of new water system
Houston River Waterworks District 11: Construction of Elevated water tank and associated piping

Major reductions
McNeese State University: Contraband Bayou Erosion Retaining Wall phase II — 1.69 mil reduction
McNeese State University: Shearman Fine Arts Building Renovation and Addition — 3.39 mil reduction
National Hurricane Museum and Science Center, Inc: Construction on the museum — $500,000 reduction  

 Northeast Louisiana
Eliminations
Louisiana Tech University: Hale Hall Reconstruction
East Carroll Parish: Road Improvements
Bastrop: Construction/renovations of Bastrop Central Fire Station, Replace Driveway City Hall, Roof Construction
Farmerville : Construction of Highway 33 South Pump Station and Force Main
Monroe: Construction on Downtown Development District facilities and infrastructure for the River Front
Simsboro: Construction of the village of Simsboro Renovate “Old” Fire Station into Townhall
Madison: Emergency Water Production
West Monroe: Creation of a Hurricane/disaster shelter by expanding the West Ouachita Senior Center
Arc of Ouachita: Construction and renovation for the Emergency Shelter and Therapeutic Center for the Developmentally Disabled
Southwest Ouachita Waterworks, Inc: Water Distribution System renovations
Freed Men, Inc: Construction of Freed Men Housing  Renovations
Monroe Downtown Economic Development District: Construction of Monroe Riverwalk
West Sterlington Water System: Construction and improvements on the water treatment system

Northwest Louisiana
Eliminations
Bossier Parish: Princeton Sports Complex- Fencing and lighting at New Ball Fields
Bossier City: Construction of Louisiana Technology Research Institute
Coushatta: Construction of Community Center
Coushatta: Installation of new streetlights and sidewalks
Cullen: Construction and improvements to the Potable Water and Distribution System  
Sarepta: Construction of the Village of Sarepta Park Trail Sidewalks and Restrooms
Shreveport: Construction of Artspace at the West Edge in Downtown Shreveport
Shreveport: Construction of the C.C. Antoine Museum and Arts Center
Sibley: Wastewater collection improvements  
The Louisiana Association For The Blind: Construction of the Louisiana Association for the Blind Safety Walk Manufacturing Facility
John K Kelly Grand Bayou Reservoir: Grand Bayou Resort Sea Wall and Sewer System repairs
Centenary College of Louisiana: Construction of Science Building
Midway Waterworks, Inc.: Construction of the Midway Water System
East Carroll Parish School Board: Construction and renovation of the administration building

Major reductions
 LSUS HEALTH SCIENCES: Impatient Critical Care Renovation, Planning and Construction — $1.7 mil reduction to existing funds