Committee OK’s disaster recovery, rental assistance funds
The joint budget committee of the Louisiana Legislature gave Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration the authority Friday to spend $331 million in federal funds but not before a contentious debate about how officials will distribute aid to rental property owners.
The committee quickly approved allowing the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to spend $257 million in disaster recovery funds related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the five named storms that hit Louisiana during last year’s record-breaking hurricane season.
Legislators primarily were concerned about $148 million meant to help households unable to pay for rent and utilities because of the pandemic. While tenants must qualify for the program, the money goes to the landlords.
by David Jacobs, The Center Square | March 01, 2021 01:00 PM Print this article
The joint budget committee of the Louisiana Legislature gave Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration the authority Friday to spend $331 million in federal funds but not before a contentious debate about how officials will distribute aid to rental property owners.
The committee quickly approved allowing the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to spend $257 million in disaster recovery funds related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the five named storms that hit Louisiana during last year’s record-breaking hurricane season.
Legislators primarily were concerned about $148 million meant to help households unable to pay for rent and utilities because of the pandemic. While tenants must qualify for the program, the money goes to the landlords.
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Governor John Bel Edwards proposes hopeful budget with no spending cuts
9News at 6, Fri., Feb. 26 Governor s budget presentation By Austin Kemker | February 26, 2021 at 4:30 PM CST - Updated February 26 at 7:28 PM
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - The Edwards administration proposed a budget for fiscal year 2022 that would use federal coronavirus aid to avoid cuts and provide additional funds to K-12 and higher education.
The $36.6 billion budget provides annual pay increases of $400 to K-12 public school teachers and $200 for K-12 support staff, a proposal that teachers unions immediately criticized as too small.
Commissioner Jay Dardenne, told legislators that the budget also includes a $56 million increase in funding for the state’s higher education system, $19.8 million of which is intended for faculty pay raises.