Harlan Kirgan
State Rep. Phillip DeVillier said his priorities are kindergarten through 12th-grade education; roads and bridges; and higher education.
But it is the state’s finances that he mostly spoke about at a Eunice Kiwanis Club meeting Thursday.
“It gives me anxiety knowing what we have coming up, which is this so-called fiscal cliff of around $1.5 billion,” he said.
That means Gov. John Bel Edwards and legislators must come up with a combination of budget cuts and revenue increases of $1.5 billion in 2018.
Recently, it was announced the state has a $100 million budget surplus, DeVillier said.
“We don’t know what we are going to do with that yet, but if you may recall a few months ago we went into a special session and we did take $100 million, right at that, form the Rainy Day fund so some people want to put that back,” he said.
DeVillier represents District 41, which includes Eunice and most of Acadia Parish except for Crowley.
“I would like to be part of the change in priorities for the state,” he said. “And begin to attract better opportunities to live, work and retire.”
DeVillier said there are two hospitals in District 41 and Louisiana State University Eunice, which he calls the best two-year college in the state.
“We, like many areas of the state, are struggling with the economy. I have seen companies go from 2,500 employees in District 41 down to 500. So, times are really tough,” he said.
“I see constituents doing what it takes to get by,” he said.
DeVillier said it not uncommon to find families that have seen their income plummet from more than $100,000 a year to less than $35,000 annually.
Those families have cut back, perhaps moving their children from private to public schools, he said.
“Now we are going to raise taxes...?” he said.
An increase in the tax on gasoline would impact families already struggling with finances, he said.
Most of the fiscal cliff is created by the 1 percent sales tax added in 2016. Various expiring tax exemptions make up most of the remainder, he said.
DeVillier said the state’s continuing budget grows from 8 to 13 percent due to constitutional increases, health care costs, public school growth and “government growth.”
A chart of general appropriations budget history shows $22.6 billion in 2014-2015 growing to $28.3 billion in 2017-2018.
“Guys it is no wonder why they keep saying we have a deficit,” he said.
“I think it is time we put the brake on them,” DeVillier said.
“I think when they are saying the word ‘cuts’ they are just talking about less of a growth. Our budget continues to grow and is now around $28 billion,” he said.
DeVillier said his plan to better educate children and repair the state’s crumbling infrastructure.
The state’s capital outlay process needs to be reformed and made transparent, he said.
For budgeting, legislators need to stop budgeting 100 percent of the estimated revenue, he said. Doing that leads to constant budget revisions, he said.
The state’s sales tax rate should to be cut from its current 5 percent, he said. The sales tax was raised 1 percent as a “bridge” in 2016 to balance the budget when Edwards took office. DeVillier opposed the tax increase.
And, legislators ought to broaden the areas were sales tax is collected such as in services, he said.
Louisiana has the highest combined sales tax rate in the nation, he said.
DeVillier said legislators need to look at streamlining the sales tax, possibly reducing the rate to 3 percent and cutting credits and exemptions.