[REPORT] Reforming Local Government in Louisiana
[REPORT] Reforming Local Government in Louisiana
The constant fiscal crises in Baton Rouge have affected governments throughout the state—64 parishes and sheriffs, 300 municipalities, 70 school boards, and other special districts. Our Constitution centralizes too much control with the state legislature in ways that preclude parishes from managing their own affairs. As part of constitutional reforms, state government should remove the strings from local authorities, giving them more flexibility to provide services at the local level and enhancing accountability at all levels of government.
Following the revelation that Louisiana suffered one of the worst Q1 economic declines in the nation, today’s weekly unemployment claims announcement contains even more bad news for Louisianans. Despite remaining steady over the past six weeks, the Department of Labor reports the week of July 4 saw a 45 percent increase in the number of...
Today, the Pelican Institute released its Get Louisiana Working Policy Solutions. This plan outlines reforms to key public policy areas to encourage the return of jobs and opportunity and to strengthen the state’s economy following the destruction resulting from COVID-19 and measures taken to address it. The Pelican Institute is also calling on state leaders...
We’re one week away from the Pelican Institute for Public Policy’s Solutions Summit 2.0. Next Thursday, January 30 at the Hilton Capitol Center in Baton Rouge, join state and national policy leaders as we unveil solutions to the biggest problems facing Louisiana. Today, we’re excited to share our all-star speaker line-up for the event, which includes legislators...
There’s still time to register for the Pelican Institute for Public Policy’s Solutions Summit 2.0 on January 30 at the Hilton Capitol Center in Baton Rouge. Sign up by clicking here today and help us spread the word so your friends, colleagues and family can reserve their spots before the event sells out. At Solutions...
On Monday night, nothing could stop Joe Burrow and the LSU offense from marching up and down the field in route to a 42-25 victory over Clemson in the college national championship game. Unfortunately, it looks like Louisiana’s government took a cue from Clemson’s defense, because a new report shows its policies are causing Louisianans...
Over the last year, the Pelican Institute has been traveling the state, speaking to individuals and organizations, releasing hundreds of pages of educational materials and countless informative video advertisements emphasizing the importance of making fundamental changes to our state government’s core structures. Now, the moment is upon us to start turning this vision of righting...
In 2009, the city of Lafayette began providing cable and internet services with the Lafayette Utilities System (LUS) Fiber network. This government owned network (GON) was established with the idea that, like water and electric utilities, internet and cable services can be more cheaply and efficiently provided by the government as opposed to the private...
It’s no secret to the people of Louisiana that things aren’t going well. The state has a shrinking labor force, an antiquated budget system, a struggling education system and a backlog of infrastructure projects that are in need of addressing. Given these issues, it’s no surprise that there is a sizable population that is leaving...
It shouldn’t surprise you to hear that Louisiana’s so-called “revenue problem” isn’t really a problem at all. Indeed, Louisiana’s real “problem” lies in our state government’s overspending, and that issue is exacerbated by its convoluted local government system. So, how do we solve the core problems with Louisiana’s local government system and ensure it encourages...
This week, the Pelican Institute releases its “Jobs and Opportunity Agenda for Louisiana,” a road map for reclaiming Louisiana as a land of opportunity for all its citizens. This agenda is the result of months of data-crunching, research, analysis and consultation with experts from Louisiana and across the country. In crafting these solutions, our team sought to answer a...
As of July 1, taxpayers in Louisiana will be paying more than $800 million in additional state taxes than were on the books coming into this year. The first hit came in the form of an unintended consequence of federal tax reform, which resulted in an increase in income taxes at the state level by...