Louisiana operating budget flat, other costs rise

(The Center Square) — Louisiana’s operating budget may be largely flat, but several other state spending bills have grown significantly in recent years, including construction, judiciary and legislative expenses.

The state’s capital outlay budget, which funds construction projects, has increased from about $7.9 billion in total means of financing in 2022 to about $12.9 billion in 2026.

The more immediate portion of that budget has also increased. Priority 1 funding, which represents projects expected to move forward sooner, rose from about $1.1 billion in 2022 to about $2 billion in 2026.

Rep. Tony Bacala, R-Prairieville, who authored the capital outlay bill, said the headline number does not mean the state will spend all of that money right away.

“It’s actually the authority to spend,” Bacala told The Center Square. “This looks at future projects as well as present. So, it projects into the future what projects we hope to fund.”

Bacala said much of the constructi...