The state of Louisiana is predicted to have an extra $1.5 billion to spend over the next 18 months. That extra money will be factored into the state's budget during the upcoming legislative session after the state's Revenue Estimating Conference updated its forecast earlier in December.
So what will the state spend that money on?
"Undoubtedly, a bunch of this is going to go to what they call 'non-recurring needs,'' Louisiana Budget Project director Jan Muller told WWL's Tommy Tucker. "That's things like infrastructure and one-time projects."
Muller says in the past, lawmakers have spent extra revenues on one-time expenses. Still, Muller points to long-term investments for which the governor could increase funding.
"There are some really serious ongoing needs that the governor is going to be able to fund if he chooses," Muller said. "Some of the services that the state provides for children and for the most vulnerable families in Louisiana: that needs to be the priority always."
Muller mentioned some of the priorities on which he believes Governor John Bel Edwards will focus.
"Paying teachers, for example: we still have some of the lowest paid public school teachers in the country in Louisiana," Muller said. "I suspect there will be a teacher pay raise. I suspect there will be more money for child welfare. We've seen all the horrors in the child welfare system. They need some revenue. Certainly, there should be some money for juvenile justice. Our juvenile justice system in Louisiana has practically collapsed."
Muller believes the legislature would agree to funding those initiatives, but he admits it's too soon to tell.
"We don't know yet where the partisan lines are going to be drawn because we don't know what the governor's priorities are going to be, but we do know that it's an election year," Muller said.
The 2023 Legislative Session will convene on April 10.