In budget, yes; money, not yet
by MICHELLE MILLHOLLON - Advocate (excerpt)

An automotive college. Meals for the elderly. School repairs. A revolving display of World War II mementos at the airport. The multi-year, $4.3 billion state construction budget that the Legislature sent to Gov. Bobby Jindal earlier this month is chock-full of projects that would benefit the Baton Rouge area.

At this point, though, the budget is an oversized wish list in need of tailoring to fit the state’s finances. Some projects will happen. Others will not. The budget, known as the capital outlay plan, exceeds by $120 million the amount of money state government can borrow for projects in the fiscal year that starts July 1.

Jindal is tasked with whittling down the list. He will reveal his choices in the fall, when he forwards projects to the State Bond Commission for borrowing.