Originally published: . Volume 12, No. 3. Source pages: 6.
Legislature to Convene April 12 Governor's $36.6B Budget Favorable to Education
The 2021 legislative session will convene on Monday, April 12 and end no later than June 10. Bills are currently being pre- filed.
Governor Edwards is recommending a $36.6 billion budget with extra money being allocated to public schools and higher education.
According to the Advocate, colleges would get an increase of $80 million which includes pay raises of approximately 4% for faculty members.
The Associated Press reported that Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed said the move “sends a clear message: education is critical to our success and now is the time to make strategic investments in our people.” She said this would be the first statewide faculty pay raise in 13 years.
The increases will fund health and retirement cost and faculty salary increases. There will be financial aid for students and more money for TOPS programs, according to reports.
Department of Corrections is set to receive $35.6 million to fund raises, to slow turnover of prison guards and probation personnel.
The budget includes $40 million to provide for school teacher raises of $400 per year. Teacher aides, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and others are said to be increased by $200 per year.
Louisiana‘s Medicaid program accounts for 40% of the operating budget or $16 billion.
According to the associated press the budget proposal is more positive than expected. “Louisiana’s tax collections are rebounding, though not enough to match pre-pandemic levels."
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