Somehow in the last few days erroneous information regarding the state’s budget has once again been circulating. This is not the first time. I’ve been circulating information to the media and others for years about this matter. As the saying goes: “I can explain it to you, but I can’t understand it for you.”

In a story in Monday’s Monroe paper about the lege activities is written:

Spending bills: The House approved more than $26 billion in spending bills for Senate consideration. Most of that money is in federal funds, as the state’s income from general fund taxes paid to the state is about $7 billion.

Assuming that “most” still means a majority, then the statement is simply wrong.

Before the latest revenue estimates, approximately $8 BILLION of the $21 BILLION in the State’s Operating Budget were Federal Funds. See budget here: http://www.state.la.us/OPB/pub/FY07/SupportingDocument/OutlookSection.pdf

The “State General Fund” is only one account in the State Treasury for the deposit of STATE revenues. It is the account into which money not specifically designated for expenditure goes. Saying that most of the state budget is Federal Funds is simply misleading.

Please give us the facts.

C.B.