The Executive Budget presented earlier this year warned that the last administration relied on one-time federal COVID relief spending in both direct revenue and temporary increased tax collections to fuel massive spending.

As a result of their decisions, not ours, and impending statutory revenue impacts, the State is now facing a serious budget shortfall on our doorstep.

With your hard work this past session we reduced the state budget spending by $2 billion over the previous administration’s last budget. In that vein, Governor Landry’s administration continues to urge all agencies to find savings as we work with the legislature to protect taxpayers and create a more sustainable state budget.

However, even with these reforms, more must be done. The impending budget shortfall is creating a crisis that must be addressed now.

This shortfall is projected to be upward of $737 million now.

This situation now jeopardizes teacher pay raises and the improvements you all made in education. Our healthcare infrastructure which protect our seniors and the most vulnerable will require harmful reductions. Other cuts would impact economic growth and higher education.

As a result, the Governor and his executive team have met with the Senate President and Speaker of the House to produce a plan to avert this crisis and place the State once and for all on a sustainable path. This wholistic plan is designed to not only address the budget shortfall but catapult Louisiana into the future with increased jobs and economic growth for years to come. The plan seeks to attract new investment while protecting low-income earners, our middle class, and senior citizens. The outline is included. The time to act is now.