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A growing trend in corporate-government relations is to offer state-funded cash incentive payments to private businesses. Economic development experts contend that incentives are essential in certain situations to gain a competitive edge that will lure businesses with large-scale projects promising significant job growth and competitive salaries.
The first of PAR’s two-part series on highway funding came to several basic conclusions. Louisiana’s roads and bridges fare poorly in comparison with national norms. A substantial backlog in unmet needs on existing highways is not getting smaller.
The 2009 regular legislative session was the short version of a Louisiana Legislative Session, which lasts 60 calendar days and focuses primarily on fiscal issues. While development of the budget did dominate much of the debate this year, the fiscal focus was limited to ordinary approaches to budget cutting and put off for another year […]
The state budget bill that was sent to the governor yesterday relies on passage of two separate bills to minimize reductions to higher education funding. However, both the House leadership and the governor oppose those revenue solutions that would tap the rainy day fund and freeze the income tax break for excess itemized deductions. Their […]
The Revenue Estimating Conference’s May revenue estimate is overdue. Annually, the Legislature relies on a May revenue estimate revision to make final adjustments to the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year that begins in July. At least one member has suggested skipping that part of the process this year. To hold off on a […]
Louisiana provides one of the highest homestead property tax exemptions in the nation. Homeowners are exempt from paying most property taxes on the first $75,000 of their home value, keeping property taxes quite low compared to elsewhere. Yet, several constitutional amendments are being considered this legislative session that would increase the homestead exemption. The proposals […]
An individual income tax reduction passed during last year’s legislative session will reduce state tax revenue by around $360 million for FY10 and will lower taxes by up to $500 for individuals and $1,000 for joint filers. The elimination or delay of this tax cut should be revisited as one of the possible alternatives to […]