Officials not laughing at Spencer’s gifts
October 5, 2010
Bayou Cane uses grant money for fire safety
October 7, 2010Senators say they’ve gotten too little information from the Jindal administration about where deep budget cuts should fall in the upcoming year.
They’re also saying the cost savings and consolidations talked about by Jindal administration leaders won’t be enough to deal with the $1.6 billion shortfall.
The comments came Friday as the Senate Finance Committee discussed the budget gap projected for the 2011-12 fiscal year that begins July 1.
Gov. Bobby Jindal’s top budget adviser – Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater – says the governor wants to protect “critical services.”
But senators say that seems impossible with the types of budget problems on the horizon.
Republican Sen. Jack Donahue of Mandeville says officials can’t keep saying that Louisiana will continue to provide the same services while cutting $1.6 billion.
State public universities and higher education facilities, as well as health care providers have expressed concern in recent weeks that more cuts will decimate their programs.
