Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne laid out the Governor’s more than 36 billion dollar budget proposal to a Legislative committee Friday.
Under next fiscal year’s proposed spending plan state spending would increase 186 million compared to this year. Public college funding would see an 80 million dollar increase, part of that being faculty pay raises.
“Louisiana ranks 47th in terms of average salaries for higher ed instructors and faculty members at four-year institutions. We are 48th when it comes to two-year institutions,” said Dardenne.
Much of the budget increase is being afforded by more generous federal support for the state’s Medicaid program, which is allowing state funds to be moved into other areas. The budget did not include increased funding for early childhood education.
Included is a 400 dollar pay raise for K-12 teachers and a 200 dollar increase for support staff that would cost the state an additional 40 million dollars a year.
“It is modest relative to the last increase that was given but it gets us closer and closer in terms of where we want to be when it comes to fighting with the southern average,” said Dardenne.
The budget also calls for increased investment in the Department of Corrections.
The plan will be debated by the Legislature in the April session and likely see changes before being adopted. Dardenne told lawmakers it’s a good platform from which the state can rebound from the pandemic.
“(It allows us) to do the kinds of things that we want to do to move people out of poverty, create educational opportunities, continue to do the kinds of things we need to do to modernize government, and continue to make wise and sensible investments,” said Dardenne.
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