News

Divvying of $40M college fund proves no easy task

by Patrick Flanagan

Two months after lawmakers agreed to create a $40 million higher education incentive fund, no decisions have been made about how to divide the money.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Two months after lawmakers agreed to create a $40 million higher education incentive fund, no decisions have been made about how to divide the money.

A council of Louisiana college, economic development and labor officials had hoped to have recommendations to the Board of Regents this week. But on Monday, the group pushed that expectation to September.

The Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy, or WISE, Fund was designed to steer money to college programs that help fill high-demand jobs and skills.

Members of the council developing the formula to divvy the cash disagree on which jobs forecast to use and which degree areas to emphasize.

Regents Chairman Clinton "Bubba" Rasberry says the council isn't dragging its feet. He says the decisions are complex and take time to settle.