LMR-October_PROOF6

Inside the LMA
Governor’s Column
RECOVERING TOGETHER
BY JOHN BEL EDWARDS, GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA
The last several months have been extremely busy for
Louisiana. Hurricane Harvey commanded our attention
for days and caused damage in southwest Louisiana,
while our neighbors in Texas took the brunt of the storm.
We quickly mobilized more than a dozen state agencies
to assist our citizens and more than 2,000 Texas
residents who desperately needed to be evacuated.
Local and American Red Cross shelters were opened
along with two state mega shelters in Alexandria and
Shreveport. Louisiana stepped up to the plate in a
major way and to help our neighbors during their time
of need just as they have helped us. I’m proud of every
Louisianan who had a part in making that happen, and
much of that credit goes to the local governments.
On the recovery front at home, more than 44,000
flood-impacted homeowners have completed the survey
to participate in the Restore Homeowner Assistance
Program, but there are many more citizens who need
help. The program is working and homeowners are
receiving help with repairs and reimbursements.
Something important to share is that the program is
now available to homeowners who had flood insurance
during the 2016 March and August floods. Additionally,
reimbursement awards as well as the amount of repair
costs that can be covered have both been increased.
Please encourage your constituents to take the survey at
restore.la.gov or call 866-735-2001 for assistance.
As you know, we are facing a $1 billion fiscal cliff on
July 1, 2018 when the additional one-cent sales tax,
approved by state lawmakers in 2016 will roll off the
books along with a temporary reduction of tax credits.
The only way we can address that shortfall is by either
replacing the revenue or imposing deep budget cuts
across state government. To be clear, I do not believe
the additional penny of sales tax should be extended,
but the revenue that penny generates must be replaced
by other measures. I am not asking for new revenue, only
to maintain what the state is currently collecting.
As public servants, we have an obligation to the people
we serve to come together and avoid the financial crisis
that is quickly approaching. You have an important role
to play and your input is valuable. That’s why I have
been traveling the state and meeting with community
stakeholders and business leaders to discuss our
options and solicit their input. I
have held eight meetings thus far
and they have all been productive. Ideas have been
offered by leaders who are invested in the success
of their communities and this state. They clearly
understand the gravity of our financial problems and are
committed to finding viable solutions that will provide
the long-term predictability and stability our state
budget desperately needs.
In addressing our budget shortfall, it is important that
we deal with the facts and not myths. The truth is the
State General Fund in 2017 is $1 billion less than it was 10
years ago. Since taking office, I have cut more than $600
million in state general funds, more than any governor
has ever done. For the first time in nine years, higher
education funding has been stabilized with no cuts in
the current year’s budget and TOPS is fully funded.
Medicaid expansion has created more jobs in the
health care sector than ever before, and our medically
uninsured rate has dropped significantly to 10 percent.
On top of that, we ended the last fiscal year with the
state’s first budget surplus since Fiscal Year 2014 and the
state’s unemployment rate has dropped to its lowest rate
since August 2008.
There are viable options to help us overcome our budget
problems, many of which were recommended by the
bipartisan task force that was created by the legislature
to study the state’s budget and tax structure. We have
made some difficult choices since I took office, but we
are on the cusp of doing great things for our state.
Party affiliations aside, it will take input from many
people to develop a plan to stabilize our state
budget. The necessary steps won’t always be the easiest
to take, but by working together we can improve our
future and prevent serious harm from being inflicted
on our citizens which could happen if we don’t resolve
this budget crisis. All of the information shared during
my meetings around the state will be taken under
serious consideration. I look forward to talking with you
and the LMA to get your ideas as well. God bless you all
and our great state.
LMR | October 2017 Page 5