In the final hours of the legislative session, lawmakers have passed a $25.4 billion budget compromise to finance the state for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
The Senate approved the deal with a 38-1 vote. The House voted 104-0 Thursday and the deal has Gov. Bobby Jindal’s backing.
The budget includes a $69 million increase for local school districts and teachers sought by House Democrats. To address concerns of House Republicans, lawmakers cut down the use of one-time financing for recurring expenses.
During the budget negotiations, a fiscally conservative minority of representatives restored their package of bills aiming to limit the use of non-recurring funds and to make the budgeting process more transparent. The package passed the House and Senate without a dissenting vote.
One of the bills would require that constitutionally mandated expenses and those that the legislature has the power to change be spelled out.
Another bill would require the state body that tallies up the state’s money to indicate what money comes in year after year and what money the state will collect only once.
Jindal has agreed to sign the legislation.
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