Louisiana

How big is Louisiana’s budget deficit next year? It depends on teacher pay. • Louisiana Illuminator

Published

1 year ago

August 10, 2024

How big is Louisiana’s budget deficit next year? It depends on teacher pay. • Louisiana Illuminator

Louisiana’s official state budget deficit estimate for the next fiscal year has shrunk from $558.8 million to $338.9 million, but mostly because stipends for school teachers and support staff have been left out of the more recent calculation.

The $338.9 million projection assumes Gov. Jeff Landry and state lawmakers will not renew a $2,000 stipend for public school teachers and $1,000 for school support staff that they have received for the past two years. In the current budget cycle, the stipends cost a total of $199 million.

It also doesn’t factor in money for differential pay bumps for teachers with hard-to-fill jobs in math, science and at schools serving predominantly low-income families. Funding for tutoring programs state Education Superintendent Cade Brumley supports has also been excluded.

If those extra schools expenses are added back, the budget deficit for the fiscal year that starts July 1, 2025, is much higher — $587 million — state budget director Ternisa Hutchinson said at a legislative budget hearing Friday.

Legislative leaders indicated they will still look at renewing the teachers pay stipend, even if it isn’t part of the official budget estimate.

“Those items will factor into budget discussions moving forward,” according to a press release sent out from House Speaker Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, and Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, after Friday’s budget meeting.

State budget officials had to leave the education programs out of their projection by law because legislators chose to fund them on a temporary basis this year, Hutchinson said. Anticipating a budget shortfall, lawmakers have been reluctant to turn the stipends into permanent raises, which would make them harder to cut if needed.

But the omission also affects estimates for state budget deficits in future years, Hutchinson said.

Without the teacher stipend and other education programs, deficits for budget cycles 2026-27 and 2027-28 are expected to be $370 million and $508.3 million, respectively. If that spending is included, however, the estimates jump to $617 million and $755 million.

Next year’s financial shortfall is largely attributed to Louisiana lawmakers voting in 2018 to automatically cut the state sales tax 0.45% on July 1, 2025. The reduction, which will leave the state sales tax rate at 4%, will cost the state $445 million in the next budget cycle.

DeVillier doesn’t believe there’s enough support from lawmakers to keep the sales tax rate at 4.45%. Two-thirds of legislators in both chambers would have to approve doing so. The conservative House of Representatives is unlikely to vote that way, he has said in recent interviews.

There are other actions lawmakers could take besides budget cuts to significantly shrink the shortfall however.

The legislators could divert $340 million in vehicle sales tax revenue currently dedicated to transportation projects back into the state general fund, which mostly pays for public higher education, health care and prisons. This would give lawmakers more flexibility to handle the shortfall.

Until a few years ago, vehicle sales tax receipts went into the general fund anyway. Legislators passed a law to siphon it off for transportation projects in 2021.

Lawmakers could also continue a 2% tax on business utilities that is supposed to be eliminated in July 2025. If they kept the tax, it would generate $220 million that could be counted against the deficit, according to estimates provided by Louisiana Department of Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson.

Legislators could also remove state spending increases factored into the budget for inflation, which total $34 million.

DeVillier said next year’s budget gap projection takes all of three of the aforementioned tax and spending measures into account.

“But we have options that can be considered that will balance the budget, including finding efficiencies in government and creating a more predictable tax structure for the state,” he said.

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Louisiana

First Alert Forecast: Coldest Night of Season in Southwest Louisiana — Here’s What You Need to Know

Published

10 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

First Alert Forecast: Coldest Night of Season in Southwest Louisiana — Here’s What You Need to Know

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – After enjoying mild weather in the 70s just yesterday, southwest Louisiana is bracing for the coldest night of the season so far, with temperatures expected to plunge well below freezing overnight and wind chills dipping into the teens.

First Alert Forecast(Kplc)

What to Expect Tonight

Temperatures will vary depending on where you live in southwest Louisiana:

Inland areas north of I-10: Temperatures will drop below 32 degrees for 8 to 12 hours, with wind chills potentially reaching the upper teens.

Along I-10: Freezing conditions expected for 5 to 8 hours.

Coastal areas: Temperatures will dip below freezing for 1 to 2 hours, with the least severe impacts.

Monday morning will be brutally cold to start, but temperatures will gradually warm into the low 50s by afternoon as the sun rises.

Protect Your Pipes

The most immediate concern for homeowners is frozen water pipes. Here’s what you need to know:

If you’ve never had pipe problems before: You likely won’t experience issues tonight. Pipes typically only freeze when temperatures stay below 25 degrees for several hours.

If you’ve had problems in the past: Take precautions now. Cover exposed pipes or leave a faucet dripping slowly. Once temperatures rise above freezing, stop dripping the faucet to avoid wasting water.

Use common sense and assess your home’s vulnerable areas. Every situation is different.

Other Safety Reminders

Outdoor pets: Bring them inside if possible, or ensure they have adequate shelter and unfrozen water.
Check on neighbors and friends: Make sure elderly relatives and those living alone are staying warm and safe.
Test your smoke detector: Cold weather increases the use of heating sources — make sure your smoke detector is working properly.
Dress in layers: If you’ll be outside, bundle up. Wind chills will make it feel significantly colder than the actual temperature.

Looking Ahead

The good news? This cold snap won’t last long. Southerly winds should return as early as Tuesday afternoon, gradually warming temperatures back toward normal.

However, Monday night into Tuesday morning will bring widespread frost with calm winds and temperatures in the 30s.

Another cold front is expected to move through Wednesday night into Thursday, bringing scattered showers. This system won’t be as severe as today’s front, but temperatures will drop slightly by week’s end.

A third cold front may arrive Sunday with scattered showers and possibly a few thunderstorms, though impacts appear minimal.

By Thursday and Friday, temperatures will rebound into the 70s before cooling slightly over the weekend.

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Louisiana

Three takeaways from LSU women’s basketball’s win over Louisiana Tech

Published

22 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Three takeaways from LSU women’s basketball’s win over Louisiana Tech

LSU women’s basketball started slow but recovered Saturday against Louisiana Tech, head coach Kim Mulkey’s alma mater. Inside New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center, the No. 5 Tigers won 87-61 to improve to 11-0.

Mikaylah Williams led the team with 19 points while Flau’Jae Johnson notched her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Kate Koval and MiLaysia Fulwiley finished with 19 and 10 points, respectively. Jada Richard dished out a game-high eight assists.

Grace Knox, in the first start of her college career, scored four points as part of a 6-0 opening run for LSU, but three three-pointers put Louisiana Tech up with 7:19 on the clock. Back-and-forth play ensued, but the Lady Techsters led by two at the end of the first quarter. They hung around on the glass as well, limiting the Tigers to one and done most times.

LSU woke up in the second quarter and began imposing its physicality. Louisiana Tech didn’t score until the 5:34 mark and racked up fouls, including two on sharp-shooter Paris Bradley. The Tigers were in the bonus for over half of the second quarter but experienced a near-three-minute scoring drought, letting the Lady Techsters hang around. LSU led by nine points heading into the locker room. Both teams shot under 40% in the opening 20 minutes.

Louisiana Tech kept the game within reach for much of the third quarter but it eventually got away. LSU ended the frame on a 9-0 run and built a 20-point lead for good a minute into the fourth. Turnovers and mental mistakes piled up for the Lady Techsters, which gave the Tigers more chances to push the pace of play. The Tigers went on a 14-2 run over four minutes when substitutes started rolling in. They shot 58.6% in the second half.

LSU lacked success in transition

LSU relies on getting into track meets with opponents quickly to build a comfortable cushion. That didn’t happen Saturday as Louisiana Tech hit its shots to open the game. Even when the Lady Techsters missed, they were comfortable going one-and-done most times as they prioritized getting numbers back to defend. That’s how they kept the score close in the early goings.

In the first half, LSU scored just six points in transition and 11 points off turnovers. The Tigers stepped up on the defensive end in the second half. Even though they didn’t produce the fast break opportunities they’re used to, they were more patient on the offensive end and knocked down their open shots.

Koval, Joyner didn’t get enough touches

As in most of its nonconference games, LSU possesses a substantial size advantage inside. That was the case Saturday but the purple and gold struggled to get the ball inside to Koval and Joyner. When the pair had touches, they often either finished, kicked out for an open shot, or drew a foul. They combined for 21 points on 21 shots from the field and 10 free-throw attempts. LSU scored just 36 points in the paint over the entire game.

Likely driven by Mulkey’s comments at the break. LSU made a concerted effort to pounce on the ball inside. Koval scored over half of her points in the final two quarters. She easily worked with passes over the top of Louisiana Tech’s Averi Aaron and in the high-low when the Lady Techsters went to a zone. The Tigers need to learn from their lack of post play and use their advantage inside, especially as they prepare to play in the SEC.

Williams led LSU throughout the game

LSU struggled to find rhythm on both ends of the court in the early goings but Williams put the team on her back in the middle two frames. She scored 13 points, including two triples, on four of seven shots from the field. She added five rebounds and three assists over the same span.

Williams played a team-high 32 minutes on Saturday and she played all but two minutes in the first half. The junior displayed much-needed poise to an LSU team that couldn’t settle into the way it wanted to play initially. She also locked in on the defensive end, switching onto Bradley and locking her down for the back half of the contest. Her play in all facets gave the Tigers the confidence that they needed to pull ahead in the second half.

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Photos: LSU women defeats Louisiana Tech in the Smoothie King Center, 87-61

Published

1 day ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Photos: LSU women defeats Louisiana Tech in the Smoothie King Center, 87-61

Kramer Robertson, son of Kim Mulkey, New Orleans Pelicans and Saints owner Gayle Benson and Mayor-Elect Helena Moreno sit on the sidelines during the first half of a Compete 4 Cause Classic basketball game between the Louisiana State Tigers and the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)

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