Louisiana Lawmakers Seek Budget Solution

A package of budget reform bills filed Tuesday by a coalition of conservative Louisiana lawmakers would make it tougher for state budget writers to rely on certain funds, the group's leader said.

The state's annual operating budget often relies on non-recurring revenues to fund recurring expenses, said Rep. Brett Geymann, R-Lake Charles, and potential collections are counted as certified revenues.

Geymann, chairman of the 30-member Budget Reform Coalition, said more than 500 dedicated funds are non-discretionary and protected by the state constitution.

Because of the restrictions on the dedicated funds state budget cuts fall disproportionately on higher education and healthcare, he said.

"We believe our legislative package will address all these issues," said Geymann.

The legislation would ban the appropriation of revenues that have not been certified by the official Revenue Estimating Conference.

It would also adopt what backers describe as strict guidelines on the budget process schedule.

The group also wants to make it more difficult to amend the state constitution.

In a presentation last week to the Chamber of Commerce of East Baton Rouge Parish, Rep. Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, said lawmakers control only $2.4 billion of Louisiana's $26 billion operating budget.

"There is no way we can continue down that path," Henry said. "That is an issue we must address in Baton Rouge if we are going to move the state forward."

Henry and Rep. Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge, filed a lawsuit in early January contending that the fiscal 2013 budget includes at least $240 million of non-recurring revenues, contingency revenue that has yet to materialize, and fund transfers.

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