(The Center Square) − The Louisiana House Appropriations Committee reviewed budget requests from several state agencies this week, with many facing significant cuts in federal funding.
The Department of Agriculture and Forestry is requesting a total budget of $95.9 million, a $25 million decrease from last year. Of that total, $35.3 million would come from the state’s general fund, while federal funding is set at $12.9 million.
The largest allocations include $28 million for management and finance, $26 million for forestry, and $15 million for animal health and food safety.
Louisiana Economic Development is seeing one of the most dramatic reductions, with a total budget request of $62.6 million — a $58 million drop from the previous year.
This includes a $50 million net decrease in federal funds, with $31.9 million of that loss attributed to reduced allocations from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Despite the funding cut, expenditures are set to rise by $7 million.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission submitted a budget request of $300 million, with $166.7 million coming from federal sources, largely through employment security grants and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The commission’s total budget decreased by nearly $1 million, including a $636,000 reduction in federal funding.
The Department of Insurance is requesting $56.8 million, with no funds from the state’s general fund. Instead, $41 million will come from self-generated revenue, $15 million from statutory dedications, and $800,000 from federal funds. The largest portion, $40 million, is allocated to market compliance.
The federal funding cuts are having a broad impact across state agencies. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries faces a $94 million budget decrease, driven by a $71 million reduction in federal allocations. Some cuts are the result of previous funds having served their purpose.
The Department of Energy and Natural Resources is also seeing a $15 million shortfall due to delays in federal infrastructure grants, while the Department of Environmental Quality’s budget is down by $6.2 million in self-generated revenue and $1.6 million from the state’s general fund.
