La. college leaders sound alarm amid budget threat - Melinda Deslatte,The Associated Press

Louisiana’s higher education leaders are ramping up pressure on state lawmakers, seeking a decision on taxes soon to avert months of financial uncertainty and a last-minute debate before a massive budget shortfall hits. About $1 billion in temporary sales taxes enacted by lawmakers in 2016 are set to expire July 1 when the new budget year begins. “We are asking our legislators, please, to firm up the bottom line for higher education, no matter what that looks like, as quickly as they can. Gather in a special session and use that time wisely,” LSU System President F. King Alexander wrote in a letter published in The Advocate. “Do it before our Louisiana students are scared out-of-state or, even worse, change their minds about going to college at all.” He warned the state could “lose our best talent because of wasted time.” http://www.houmatoday.com/news/20180117/la-college-leaders-sound-alarm-amid-budget-threat