BY DOUG GRAHAM | Staff writer Money talks: As East Baton Rouge Parish and St. George negotiate on an agreement between the two governments, a major gap exists between the amount of tax money the parish wants keep and what the new city is expecting. At the center of the debate are which services the new city will handle, and which ones it will pay the parish to maintain. The question of how much revenue the parish will lose due to St. George's incorporation is looming over both the parish government and the campaign trail in Baton Rouge's mayoral race. Read about the details of the talks. Budget uncertainty: Louisiana lawmakers are getting ready for the possibility that automatic income and corporate franchise tax rate cuts will be triggered if certain conditions develop, including a collections threshold and the level of the state's "rainy day" fund. A spokesperson for the Department of Revenue says the triggers could increase the budget shortfall by $100 million to $200 million. Read more about the possible impact. Welcome back: In his first season as head coach at South Alabama, former Catholic High star quarterback Major Applewhite returns home to Baton Rouge, where he will lead his Jaguars against the Tigers on Saturday at Tiger Stadium. Read why he says growing up here was "a great experience.” |