BATON ROUGE (AP) — Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration is quietly notifying legislative leaders that Louisiana closed the books on the last budget year with a deficit.
But the administration won't release a figure publicly.
The announcement of the deficit's size is expected in mid-October to the Legislature's joint budget committee.
House Speaker Chuck Kleckley and Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Fannin said Wednesday they've been told by administration officials Louisiana ended the last fiscal year June 30 in the red.
Both men said they've not received a final tally.
The deficit, which will have to be closed within nine months, heaps new worries on a state struggling with a long list of budget problems. It comes as Jindal is running for the GOP presidential nomination and pitching himself as a strong manager of Louisiana's finances.
– by AP Reporter Melinda Deslatte
