Higher education in Louisiana faced cuts this past year after the state faced a multi-million dollar budget shortfall.
It could’ve been worse (way worse) for education though. Governor Bobby Jindal reportedly wanted to cut over $600 million from higher education but was rebuffed by leaders in the state legislature.
In speaking with the press this past week, Jindal notes that he was upset that lawmakers didn’t cut from the state’s higher education fund.
To close the state’s budget shortfall, lawmakers used money from the rainy day fund. Despite Jindal’s opposition, the fact that higher education funds weren’t slashed even further is good for just about everyone else.
Despite Jindal’s opposition, the fact that higher education funds weren’t slashed even further is good for just about everyone else.
Nola.com notes that the move saved many schools from being reorganized.
“The Louisiana Legislature voted overwhelmingly last week to draw down around $28 million from the rainy day fund to cope with a midyear budget shortfall. The move allowed public colleges and universities to avoid reductions in the current budget cycle — though the outgoing governor said he would have preferred more reductions.”
Against his will, Jindal compromised and went along with what the legislature wanted. Since Jindal’s terms as governor is up in January, he spoke about the need to reduce the size of the state’s government, which is why he wanted to cut higher education funding.
On the inverse, Governor-Elect John Bel Edwards says that he wants to increase the budget for higher education, which will undoubtedly appease education leaders in the state.
