[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6109061,"mediaKeyId","2764828-74b09c083c2439cde7387093bb4680b3","parentId",2764828,"title","DOTD outlines $778.6 million FY26 plan and $18.9 billion estimated highway and bridge backlog","audioSeconds",6512,"startMs",8041000,"endMs",14553000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2764828-74b09c083c2439cde7387093bb4680b3&start=8041&end=14553","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2764828-74b09c083c2439cde7387093bb4680b3/thumbnail_8041000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6109061/Louisiana/DOTD-outlines-7786-million-FY26-plan-and-189-billion-estimated-highway-and-bridge-backlog","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109061-00165de10914f6864cd7ef56fc50042f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770407613&Signature=Qv-Tqpd-J1hOtukmKRV0gkw34LFpG8YjK3xYOOkYAoClWAVjb-QOyzdatixp8p6Kmvy7l4WMJaoVC4~tbQ4cLo5MJ8SzDV7ZFaMSE-GVwx3bpHLODFYBTIP51-KPhzbnpaJ0H0-p0LEtFoSgB6U0VS1MBBdqz5xZK1YVIyzlXIgEpgs2jgWJm9EKOIlT5uw3Re3jTT8r5tOYTIXlfPVDJ9LOj7AwrzN3DHoyZCHaviLOewFk1vB6sF6PnQRc4AlkCipJ7m71fXA5LxzdpSCm1A8cdYAlghP7SOMYcw3Y47hilB7h5YvkbRZ273kogGqXnlPWvWDZOXqk4-MD8dQ0HA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana Legislature","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","The Department of Transportation and Development briefed the House Appropriations Committee on its FY26 executive budget recommendation and a strategic improvement plan aimed at improving project delivery and transparency.

House Fiscal Division presenter Claire Vermallen summarized DOTD’s FY26 operating recommendation at $778.6 million, with statutory dedications accounting for about $620.2 million (roughly 80% of the total) and a state general fund component of approximately $53.4 million. Vermallen said the Transportation Trust Fund regular — the 16¢ per gallon state fuel tax — and federal fuel taxes are primary funding sources. DOTD reported 4,319 authorized positions and 148 vacancies as of Dec. 30, 2024.

Secretary Shawn Donahue described an internal strategic improvement plan developed after outside consultant review and an executive order; the plan emphasizes transparency, predictable project delivery, and operational reforms. He noted recent project wins, including the Calcasieu River bridge transaction structured as a public–private partnership that earned industry awards and bond‑market recognition.

DOTD staff outlined significant line‑items: a $65 million increase in vehicle and equipment replacement, the removal of one‑time FY25 acquisition/repair funding (a roughly $92.1 million decrease) and a $18.3 million increase in personnel services to address classified employee pay. The department said average salaries remain below statewide averages by approximately $5,500 and that turnover is below the statewide average for FY24.

Lawmakers pressed DOTD on the state highway and bridge backlog, which DOTD estimated at about $18.9 billion (2022 estimate) and said recent inflation and construction‑cost escalation have accelerated backlog growth. DOTD cautioned the 2022 backlog number is calculated under a specific methodology and that the 2023 calculation may differ slightly. The department said the backlog figure does not always capture pre‑construction design costs and that actual needs may be higher when such costs are included.

Questions focused on major projects and delivery timelines. Members asked about I‑10/I‑12 projects and a college flyover that has accrued liquidated damages for missed contractual completion dates; DOTD said the flyover is a design‑build contract currently accruing penalties for each day beyond the contractual deadline and that other segments of the I‑10 program are proceeding under a construction manager–at‑risk (CMAR) delivery with staged design and construction.

DOTD described August redistribution — the Federal Highway Administration practice of reallocating unused federal obligation authority to states prepared to obligate additional funds — and said Louisiana has received substantial August redistributions in past years (including about $104 million in FY24). Secretary Donahue and deputies said they are working to ensure project readiness to take advantage of such redistributions.

On local funding, DOTD described the Parish Transportation Fund (PTF) recommendation at $46.4 million for FY26 (parish roads, mass transit, off‑system bridge match). The department reiterated the road transfer program as a tool to move low‑priority state road mileage to local jurisdictions, while offering parish incentives and local match mechanisms.

Lawmakers and DOTD staff highlighted the importance of district offices, requested continuing outreach to parishes, and emphasized the need for long‑term strategies to reduce the backlog. DOTD said it is on track to obligate or contract a slate of preservation projects funded by recent legislative appropriations and urged legislative partners to continue support for capital and programmatic investments.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Appropriations Mar 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Department of Transportation and Development presented a $778.6 million FY26 operating recommendation to the House Appropriations Committee and said statutory dedications provide most funding; DOTD also highlighted a roughly $18.9 billion estimated state highway and bridge backlog and ongoing reforms to improve delivery.","taxTitle","Appropriations, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Louisiana","taxId",20967,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6109071,"State Treasury highlights investment gains, unclaimed‑property returns and launch of school transparency portal",742,2825000,3567000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2764828-74b09c083c2439cde7387093bb4680b3&start=2825&end=3567","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2764828-74b09c083c2439cde7387093bb4680b3/thumbnail_2825000.jpg","/articles/6109071/Louisiana/State-Treasury-highlights-investment-gains-unclaimedproperty-returns-and-launch-of-school-transparency-portal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109071-fbf0351746e208a8c64e960c079a6e52/orig.mp4?Expires=1770407613&Signature=fZI8gYFVIgzWaKpG6Ec1NSiINTF-REfihGkxv6Nz63rMFSm1tBv5ZwPMpW~cZE9SlQuuR6eWfX2oVu7dIT309wxNMVgUA85UUhCBmfE~CavXhv0fqb6FY2DRaqNKVSbcRxiRAuHF2JyQFLbn-gTjdz6XNN6~PgmkNZz-x6LtEoDTJZJ1nR2ZG7FBa-jxrBLJNeyKg6RV2He9mIs05IzQyEamhG6CvgZXJnzWd~xKCvKcecqwo0LOwa7x3ocvfQrBwXNZStxOVtzXQBprxiiHA8gC4THlsAhgG~GTHqNXwYNs0Nlw1OqgNNnmVMV9q0KlAQ9Kz1mAnp3hTEUzoC6xlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State Treasurer John Fleming and Treasury staff briefed the House Appropriations Committee on the Treasury's FY26 recommendation and several operational efforts, including a newly launched school transparency portal, unclaimed property outreach and the administration of Hurricane Ida recovery grants.

Blair LeBlanc of the House Fiscal Division presented a $14.2 million FY26 recommendation for the Treasury, funded mostly by fees and self‑generated revenue; the largest program is the administrative program, which houses unclaimed property work. Treasurer John Fleming said Treasury achieved its highest rate of return on state investments in the past five years and credited both higher interest rates and the agency’s investment staff; he reported S&P upgraded Louisiana’s general obligation rating to AA in 2024 and said ongoing refinancing produced tens of millions in savings.

Fleming told lawmakers the Unclaimed Property Division returned more than $50 million to citizens in FY24 and currently maintains an escrow balance used for annual claims of about $153 million as of the prior Friday. Treasury staff described implementing an outside call center to handle routine inquiries about unclaimed property; Treasury said the change reduced claims processing times by approximately half and allowed in‑house staff to focus on complex claims.

Treasury announced it will make detailed, public data on every award, task order, memorandum of understanding, cooperative endeavor agreement (CEA) and contract for every public school system and charter school available on a new School Transparency Project portal. Fleming said the portal — required by legislation passed and shepherded in the Legislature — will be available by March 31 and will include award amounts and task‑order details for approximately 119 participating districts and charters.

Members pressed Treasury officials about lingering CEAs and local capacity to administer grants. Staff said Treasury is actively identifying CEAs that have expired, those that lack contact information, and those with reports due on June 30; the office maintains a public listing and is working to resolve roughly 1,700 CEAs and several hundred outstanding items carried forward from prior years. Fleming and staff asked legislators to assist by contacting local officials where CEAs are stalled.

Lawmakers also asked about the Hurricane Ida recovery grant program and about whether the unclaimed property call center is located in Louisiana; Treasury staff said the center is a third‑party specialist not located in‑state and offered to provide the exact location on request. Treasury staff noted the program has awarded nearly $25.9 million through cooperative endeavor agreements to eligible subdivisions in South Louisiana.

On bonds and investments, Fleming said the Bond Commission issued about $784 million in bonds in FY25 and that refinancing returned about $97.8 million in savings through 2024; he noted ongoing refunding work will likely increase savings. Members asked about the potential fiscal and rating impact of pending constitutional and tax changes; Treasury said it had not identified a negative effect to bond ratings but that rating agencies will watch reserves and structural balance over time.

Committee members praised unclaimed property staff for outreach and asked Treasury to continue helping smaller local governments manage CEAs and reporting obligations. Treasury said staff will continue monitoring and publishing CEA status and will work with legislators’ offices to resolve contacts and documentation issues.

","State Treasurer John Fleming told the House Appropriations Committee the Treasury saw strong investment returns and returned more than $50 million in unclaimed property in FY24 while announcing the upcoming School Transparency Project portal to publish detailed school awards and contracts by March 31.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6109077,"Louisiana Veterans Affairs seeks pay and staffing boosts as FY26 budget holds steady",2701,127000,2828000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2764828-74b09c083c2439cde7387093bb4680b3&start=127&end=2828","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2764828-74b09c083c2439cde7387093bb4680b3/thumbnail_127000.jpg","/articles/6109077/Louisiana/Louisiana-Veterans-Affairs-seeks-pay-and-staffing-boosts-as-FY26-budget-holds-steady","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109077-9e4b17be5c6802771d228cf70f702e01/orig.mp4?Expires=1770407613&Signature=dorRnwW-nL~4yvvQz68h4tD8B7Llw-MqAFwWMeQeheMdPc50gDmDRNvk1VQqyY-VCmPcX8mpxo4P8cHW6hnNtYTMi09caP6r-PQgY29ma78HVhpd7IhFUs94Mf1d-rngL-khdFtXWH6uoIP59ChK4o-BNOobYp-gu0eUSAfgmizdXg~TxRWP2pB0AylVNOHiWh5ZuAvATnumqnXfYOH9LPcrCeZ9VWmFHoQy5OGSSElKUG~T8qIevHBbFp27n1yL988ycxLfze8xdOQWDCr-Hn8hB3vLUS7R0yu-N1kQXGylK2CAP99Ioisg4Lx4LPAn2PvyJkxiSaRBoXxMrFvF-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Department of Veterans Affairs presented its FY26 executive budget to the House Appropriations Committee on March 25, 2025, asking lawmakers to approve a $102.2 million operating recommendation while outlining persistent staffing and claims-processing challenges.

Committee members heard that roughly two-thirds of the department's funding is federal, about 16.7% comes from the state general fund, and the department has uneven pay and turnover that affect care at five veterans homes.

Presenting the department review, Paige Filho of the House Fiscal Division said the FY26 recommendation totals about $102,200,000 with federal funds the largest source. Secretary Charlotte McGinley told members the department has 851 authorized positions and about 80 vacancies as of Dec. 30, 2024, and that average pay is roughly $16,000 below the statewide agency average. McGinley and Chief of Staff Dustin Guy said the department is raising base pay for nursing assistants and pursuing job-series adjustments to create promotion pathways.

Committee members pressed department officials on vacancy patterns. McGinley and Guy said nursing assistant positions accounted for the largest separations and that entry pay for a certified nursing assistant is about $30,000 with progression to roughly $40,000 after about a year with premiums, overtime and shift differentials. The officials said turnover has improved from earlier post‑COVID highs — from roughly 175 open positions a year ago to about 80 now — but remains above the statewide average.

Lawmakers also questioned the department’s handling of the LANG benefit program, a state program that provides payments to qualifying Louisiana National Guard members rated 100% related to contingency operations. McGinley said prior administrations had one person processing those claims; the department is shifting to a team model and expects to have three full‑time and seven part‑time staff working on LANG cases by the end of next month to clear a backlog. She said the program is appropriated about $3.7 million in FY26 and that historically only about a third of claims meet statutory eligibility.

Members asked about veteran economic impact figures cited by McGinley (for example, $4.7 billion in VA/DoD dollars flowing into the state, and $196 million in GI Bill payments statewide, with LSU receiving about $30 million). McGinley said the figures were compiled from federal and state sources and used in outreach to colleges and workforce programs.

Officials told the committee that veterans home occupancy generally runs about 80–90% statewide (Jennings and Reserve among the higher‑census homes), that Bossier recovered recent census losses, and that several homes have capital projects underway — Jennings’s shower/ADA project was cited as a $1.6 million capital outlay effort in progress. On personnel and pay, McGinley and Guy said they are pursuing civil service job‑assessment work, premium pay and classification changes to reduce turnover.

The department said it expects most FY26 state general fund allocations to be used; prior years showed returned SGF tied largely to under‑spent LANG appropriations while the department lacked staff to process those awards efficiently. McGinley said the department inherited some of those operational shortcomings and that the new claims team is intended to reduce returned appropriations by putting money into veterans’ hands.

The hearing included multiple lawmakers’ praise for the department’s outreach to veterans, and consistent requests for updates on vacancy reductions, LANG backlog clearance and progress on capital projects.

Officials provided the committee contact points for follow‑up and said they would return with progress updates on the staffing changes and claim processing timeline.

","Department of Veterans Affairs officials briefed the House Appropriations Committee on a $102.2 million FY26 budget recommendation, saying federal funds make up the largest share, while staffing shortages, low pay for nursing assistants and a backlog in the Louisiana Air National Guard (LANG) benefit claims remain top concerns.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6109066,"Public Service Commission budget steady; agency cites turnover and growing regional regulatory work",1372,6670000,8042000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2764828-74b09c083c2439cde7387093bb4680b3&start=6670&end=8042","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2764828-74b09c083c2439cde7387093bb4680b3/thumbnail_6670000.jpg","/articles/6109066/Louisiana/Public-Service-Commission-budget-steady-agency-cites-turnover-and-growing-regional-regulatory-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109066-9a1828daf024cc3cf86871bb00bccd10/orig.mp4?Expires=1770407613&Signature=ghbPV5Gj6fT~fUEgxbnhnDCOUzLcPTBPHJX6nRKM4WNbrUZW-d~C6Chmpz5WF9jdhz76gAbyWQW3GTg6DST9qJLDpaSRnKSvfyP2HxrLuNvPv9KJQ72YBhPuWbF8Wsms~yLjsQDbhC-k-dY~xhlsaKbbIQuvDCtPiq4kZrfye-dmyyNzWBoIYNWZh4wQuuOxpPxUcZapygm~vZlUhjyFmILfQNs3S2gutMwHiOStNrwUKtmKrA8lGPfROHpg-G-TWXiK~DQ0wG-8fisM8W6G3Qa68Zbu4IFm6vl0BVIIMbAo8CrTwHR41m4X04-cX5JcZKsih9WwO4FeaVJ3MnBorw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Public Service Commission presented its FY26 executive budget recommendation of $10.9 million to the House Appropriations Committee on March 25, 2025, and commissioners’ staff described steady revenue from inspection and carrier fees but growing regulatory obligations at the regional and federal level.

Abigail Chasten of the House Fiscal Division said the PSC’s FY26 recommendation totals $10.9 million, entirely supported by self‑generated revenues, with personnel services accounting for roughly 85% of the agency’s budget. Brandon Frey, the PSC’s executive secretary, told lawmakers the commission delivered $184.3 million in direct savings and $61 million in indirect savings to ratepayers through docketed proceedings this fiscal year.

Frey and staff said the commission has 95 authorized positions and 16 vacancies as of the end of calendar 2024 and that the PSC’s average salary runs about $4,000 below the statewide average. They said turnover is pronounced for specialized attorney and auditor roles that require high technical skill and noted competition for those employees from other agencies and the private sector. The commission reported stepped‑up hiring rates but said civil service limits and limited upward mobility in a small agency make retention difficult.

Representative Marcel asked about a $33,000 projected increase in travel for attorneys and auditors; Frey said the commission frequently participates in federal and regional proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), in Washington, D.C., and in regional transmission organization (RTO) meetings, including MISO and Southwest Power Pool, which require travel to regional venues.

Members also asked about a pending FCC rule that would cap inmate telephone and video call rates; Frey said the FCC action could preempt state regulation if upheld, though litigation is pending and the commission will enforce federal rules where applicable.

Frey said the PSC has special interest rates for attorney recruitment to help retain regulatory staff and that the commission uses outside counsel and expert witnesses on major cases — costs which are typically billed to the utilities involved rather than borne by the PSC’s operating budget.

Lawmakers raised the potential effect of large industrial energy users (some referenced data‑center projects) on system planning. Frey said projects like data centers are addressed through commission dockets and through regional planning groups, and that commission staff and outside experts work to evaluate reliability, transmission and rate impacts.

The PSC presentation closed with a request for continued support for recruitment tools and for civil‑service adjustments that permit the commission to remain competitive for specialized regulatory staff.

","The Public Service Commission told the House Appropriations Committee its FY26 budget is $10.9 million funded by self‑generated fees, and officials warned of turnover among regulatory attorneys and auditors while noting recent regional duties — including frequent work before FERC and regional transmission organizations — have raised travel needs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DOTD outlines $778.6 million FY26 plan and $18.9 billion estimated highway and bridge backlog

State Treasury highlights investment gains, unclaimed‑property returns and launch of school transparency portal

Louisiana Veterans Affairs seeks pay and staffing boosts as FY26 budget holds steady

Public Service Commission budget steady; agency cites turnover and growing regional regulatory work