Gov. nixes Eunice City Lake project

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced $44 million in line-item vetoes from the Legislature’s construction project wish list.
“My commitment to the people of Louisiana was and is to prioritize the state’s construction budget and be realistic with the limited financial resources we have at our disposal,” Edwards said Monday. “Given our historic budget shortfalls, the people of Louisiana stand to benefit most from better roads and other infrastructure. For too long, the capital outlay process gave false hope to the people of Louisiana that construction dollars were on the way when, in fact, they were not. I’ve promised to budget openly and honestly with the people of Louisiana, and this capital outlay bill is representative of that approach.”
Edwards has signed legislation from the second special session that provides funding for state construction projects.
The governor’s veto message stated House Bill 2 included $1.37 billion in Priority 1 and $232 million in Priority 2 general obligation bond appropriations.
Area projects deleted include:
— $2.2 million to LSU Eunice for the replacement of Science Lab Fume Hoods, Planning and Construction.
— $180,000 to the City of Eunice for levee site work at Eunice City Lake, and city park upgrades, planning and construction.
— $150,000 to Leonville for boat launch facility improvements - Phase II, planning and construction.
St. Landry Parish projects that survived include:
— Harry Guilbeau Road Economic Development District: $186,300
— Hurricane evacuations and homeland security coordination and related renovations: $86,300.
— Grand Coteau Police and utility departments roof: $60,000.
— Grand Coteau fire truck and fire station upgrades: $10,000.
— Opelousas infrastructure renovation program: $400,000.