Louisiana

Revenue anticipation notes are an option for Louisiana local governments to pay costs from Hurricane Isaac until federal emergency funds begin flowing, State Treasurer John Kennedy said.

Municipal bond issuance in the Southeast during the first half of this year was up by 57% to $34 billion - nearly the same amount that was lost between 2011 and 2010.

The Retired State Employees Association of Louisiana filed a suit in state court Aug. 16 to stop the implementation of a new state pension plan proposed by Gov. Bobby Jindal and passed by the 2012 Legislature.

The number of state boards and commissions in Louisiana has fallen to a total of 492 entities after peaking at 513 in 2004, legislative auditor Daryl Purpera said Aug. 20 in a report to lawmakers.

Louisiana State Bond Commission on Thursday approved a $40 million refunding of parking garage revenue debt at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

An impending refunding of parking garage debt is a sign that revitalization is a reality at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport as passenger levels increase to near pre-hurricane days at the city-owned airport.

The Louisiana State Bond Commission will review the first tranche from a new state bond program to finance rural road upgrades.

Louisiana collected $721.9 million in state taxes in June, up from $695 million in May, according to the latest monthly report from the Department of Revenue.

Louisiana must move quickly to avoid damage to its Medicaid program resulting from a sooner-than-expected end to federal assistance, state Treasurer John Kennedy said last week in outlining a 14-step plan.

Louisiana needs to do a better job in tracking hundreds of tax exemptions and credits, the president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana Inc., said.

A panel of 14 Louisiana state legislators is reviewing more than 400 tax exemptions that cost the state between $4 billion and $7 billion a year.

Louisiana's chain of 10 state hospitals that serve 1.2 million low income and disabled Louisianians are imperiled by a sudden and severe cut in federal funds for the program.

The Louisiana State Bond Commission gave approval Thursday to New Orleans' request for taxable refunding issue of up to $200 million in late August.

Louisiana Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein will outline the reasons behind his order cutting $550 million from the state's Medicaid program Thursday at a special joint legislative committee hearing.

Louisiana could avoid repeated revenue shortfalls and be able to adequately fund higher education if state spending were more rational, Treasurer John Kennedy said.

Louisiana State Bond Commission will consider a request Thursday from the Tiger Athletic Foundation for $75 million of revenue bonds to finance an expansion project at Louisiana State University's football stadium in Baton Rouge.

Former state Rep. Vic Stelly, who engineered a now-repealed plan that raised income tax rates while reducing sales taxes, said last week that tax credits and exemptions are destroying Louisiana's finances.

Ascension Parish, La. officials are considering a 25-year, $135 million road improvement program to be funded in part with $80 million of bonds supported by a proposed 0.5% increase in the parish's sales tax.

Two refundings over the next two months will reduce New Orleans' annual debt service and remove an unsecured credit from the city's balance sheet.

State Bond Commission wants $325 million of road revenue bonds to hit the market quickly while interest rates are low.