2011 General Election Ballot Guide: Louisiana
Statewide measures – October 22nd election
- (–)
Amendment 1 on the statewide ballot would redirect future tobacco settlement
funds from the Millennium Fund to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students
(TOPS) scholarship. Additionally, the proposed amendment would permanently
extend and place in the constitution a $0.04 per pack cigarette tax set to
expire next year.
- (+) Amendment 2
on the statewide ballot seeks to reduce Louisiana’s unfunded liabilities by
mandating that a minimum of 5 percent of total nonrecurring, one-time-only
revenue in 2013-14 and 2014-15 and 10 percent of nonrecurring revenue for
remaining years go toward paying the $9.45 billion of unfunded liabilities in
the pre-1988 state employee retirement plans.
- (+)
Amendment 3 on the statewide ballot
would create a lockbox around monies deposited in the Patient’s Compensation
Fund and ensure the account is not raided by the Legislature.
- (+)
Amendment 4 on the statewide ballot would provide that if money is withdrawn
from the Budget Stabilization Fund, the state must begin to replenish the Fund
during the second fiscal year after the money was withdrawn, paying back the
withdrawn amount in thirds each year until fully repaid or until the Fund
reaches its statutory cap. While some argue that this could encourage officials
to tap into the fund more frequently, it also sets out useful guidelines for
refilling it.
- (+)
Amendment 5 on the statewide ballot would update the New Orleans property tax
sales law to specify New Orleans by name, rather than outdated census data, in
regard to its minimum bid sales exemption.
Statewide measures – November 19th
election
- (+) Amendment 1 on the November 19th
statewide ballot would prohibit the implementation of any new real estate
transfer taxes after November 30, 2011.
