Proposed Budget Highlights
The proposed fiscal 2023 budget focuses on making investments in the future, and only using one-time money for one-time expenses. The following State General Fund items are included in the proposed budget:
- $671.2 million to replace one-time funds from the emergency FMAP and Lottery Proceeds Fund.
- $36.8 million to provide funds for state agency acquisitions and repairs.
- $148.4 million for teacher and support worker pay raises.
- $47.5 million to invest in early childhood education, including the following:
- $25 million to increase per child rate to providers.
- $17 million to increase LA-4 Early Childhood program rate per pupil.
- $1.4 million to increase rate for nonpublic school early childhood development.
- $4.1 million to add additional funding for 256 students on waitlist for Student Scholarships for Education Excellence Program.
- $103.8 million for higher education including the following:
- $31.7 million for faculty pay increases and related benefits.
- $18.0 million for mandated cost increases and LSU First.
- $25.0 million for formula funding.
- $15.0 million for Go Grants.
- $5.0 million for Title IX offices.
- $5.0 million for the Pennington Biomedical Research Center youth obesity pilot program
- $4.1 million for LSU and Southern University agriculture programs.
- $33.8 million for Louisiana Department of Health to equalize rates for personal care services.
- $25.7 million for a $100 per month supplemental pay increase for sheriffs’ deputies, as well as municipal police and firefighters.
Other priorities in the fiscal 2023 budget include the following:
- Using one-time money for one-time expenses.
- Supporting Louisiana’s businesses and unemployed workers.
- Dedicates $550 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to replenish the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.
- $1.2 billion for improving Louisiana’s infrastructure including the following:
- $500 million from fiscal 2022 state General Fund excess for new Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge.
- $100 million of ARPA funds for I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles.
- $100 million for the I-49 Lafayette Connector.
- $500 million for water and sewer improvements statewide.