The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday begins weeks of planned hearings to comb through the details of Gov. Bobby Jindal's 2013-14 budget proposal for the new fiscal year that begins July 1.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Lawmakers on the House budget-writing committee are starting their work on next year's spending plans.
The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday begins weeks of planned hearings to comb through the details of Gov. Bobby Jindal's 2013-14 budget proposal for the new fiscal year that begins July 1.
Jindal's spending recommendations rely on anticipated savings from the privatization of most LSU-run public hospitals, which hasn't yet happened; patchwork financing from property sales and other not-yet-completed deals; and tuition increases for college students.
Lawmakers are questioning some of the assumptions used to craft the governor's budget. But Jindal administration leaders say they are confident the savings and other financing arrangements will materialize.
A final version of next year's budget won't be complete until the end of the regular legislative session in June.