Louisiana Senate Approves Reduced Funding for LA GATOR Program

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Lawmakers in the Louisiana Senate discussing budget allocations for education programs.

News Summary

The Louisiana Senate Finance Committee has approved a budget that cuts funding for the LA GATOR Private School Voucher Program to $43.5 million, down from Governor Landry’s request of $93.5 million. This decision highlights a political divide between Governor Landry and Senate President Cameron Henry, who has resisted pressure from advocates. While the budget includes additional investments in education and social services, the reduction in voucher funding reflects diverging priorities within the state’s Republican leadership.

BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Senate Finance Committee has approved a state budget that allocates $50 million less for the LA GATOR Private School Voucher Program than what Governor Jeff Landry requested, limiting funding to $43.5 million for the upcoming fiscal year. This budget decision is a significant reduction from the governor’s requested amount of $93.5 million, which was intended to assist families with tuition payments for private schools and other homeschooling expenses. The reduction highlights a political divergence between Governor Landry and Senate President Cameron Henry, who has maintained his position despite pressure from advocates for the program.

The LA GATOR program is geared towards supporting families seeking educational alternatives for their children, as demonstrated by the high demand indicated by approximately 40,000 families who applied for vouchers. Initially, the Louisiana House of Representatives had passed a budget that included the full $93.5 million request, showing broad support for the program. However, the Senate Finance Committee amended the budget, leading to the substantial cut. Henry had previously claimed that the funding for the LA GATOR program would remain consistent with the former voucher program it replaces, directly rejecting Landry’s appeal for increased financial support.

Despite a weeks-long public pressure campaign, which included aggressive advertising against Senate leadership and a rally attended by the governor, Henry has remained steadfast in his decision regarding the program’s funding. The conflict marks a notable split in priorities for Republican leadership, given Landry’s role as a significant proponent of educational choice and funding expansions.

Alongside the adjustments to the LA GATOR program, the Senate’s budget proposal incorporated additional investments in various educational and social services. Amendments include $30 million designated for high-dosage tutoring initiatives, $20 million intended to ease debt payments for the University of New Orleans connected to its transition into the LSU system, and an extra $5 million allocated for operational expenses within the Department of Children and Family Services. Furthermore, the Senate also approved a $3 increase in the daily rate paid to local jails housing state inmates, bringing the reimbursement to $29.39 per inmate and ultimately costing the state an additional $17.4 million for the expanded provision.

Discussions surrounding educator compensation remain a critical component of the state budget, with lawmakers having previously debated strategies to secure nearly $200 million for teacher stipends of $2,000 annually for teachers and $1,000 for school support staff. The budget approved by the Senate committee preserves these stipends, signaling support for educational personnel amidst ongoing funding challenges.

The state budget is not yet finalized, as it awaits approval from the full Senate and the House of Representatives. The proposed budget also includes substantial increases in federal funding for Medicaid, intending to enhance reimbursement rates for Medicaid patients. Other allocations entail a $20 million fund directed towards the University of Louisiana System to address financial obligations associated with the University of New Orleans and encourage youth recreation partnerships across the state.

Lastly, the Senate budget allocates $1.5 million for the Louisiana DOGE initiative, an effort aimed at identifying government efficiencies and supporting ten positions designated for financial reviews throughout the state. This initiative reflects ongoing efforts to optimize state expenditure and resource allocation.