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Louisiana Transportation Fund and Revenue Allocation, Amendment 5 (2016)

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Louisiana Amendment 5
Flag of Louisiana.png
Election date
November 8, 2016
Topic
State and local government budgets, spending and finance
Status
Approveda Approved
Type
Constitutional amendment
Origin
State legislature

2016 measures
Seal of Louisiana.png
November 8
Amendment 1 Approveda
Amendment 2 Defeatedd
Amendment 3 Defeatedd
Amendment 4 Approveda
Amendment 5 Approveda
Amendment 6 Defeatedd
Polls
Voter guides
Campaign finance
Signature costs

The Louisiana Transportation Fund and Revenue Allocation, Amendment 5, was on the November 8, 2016, ballot in Louisiana as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. It was approved.

A "yes" vote favored establishing the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund to be used for construction projects and transportation infrastructure.
A "no" vote opposed establishing the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund to be used for construction projects and transportation infrastructure.

Election results

Amendment 5
ResultVotesPercentage
Approveda Yes 949,805 53.6%
No822,07946.4%
Election results from Louisiana Secretary of State

Text of measure

Ballot language

The following language appeared on the ballot:[1]

Do you support an amendment to establish the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund for the deposit of recurring mineral and corporate tax revenues, to restrict the use of the fund to 10% of the balance when the balance reaches $5 billion, to restrict the use of the fund to construction projects and transportation infrastructure, and to allocate recurring mineral revenues to the payment of state employee retirement debt? [2]

Constitutional changes

See also: Louisiana Constitution

The measure was designed to amend Article VII, Section 10 of the Louisiana Constitution. The following text was added (indicated with Underlined text) and removed (indicated with Strike out text) by the measure's approval:[1]

Support

Supporters

Legislators

The following legislator sponsored House Bill 603, the amendment's corresponding legislation:[1]

Organizations

  • Council for a Better Louisiana[3]

Arguments in favor

Official arguments

The following argument was published in the PAR Guide to the 2016 Constitutional Amendments:[4]

Louisiana’s spending problem stems from the fact that the Legislature appropriates nearly every dollar it receives every fiscal year. This amendment will stop that practice by introducing forced fiscal restraint as it relates to the volatile revenue sources of corporate income tax and mineral revenues. It will have the added benefit of recognizing that credit rating agencies assess the strength of Louisiana’s trust funds when calculating the state’s fiscal health and the reliability of the state to make good on its commitments. Irresponsible spending and fiscal mismanagement could cause these entities to further downgrade the state’s bond ratings, driving up the cost of borrowing money to finance important programs or long-term construction projects. Paying down state retirement unfunded accrued liabilities would reduce the amount needed to keep these systems solvent in the future and remove a substantial drag on Louisiana’s economy. This amendment helps pay down retirement liabilities and shows credit rating agencies that the state is prepared for economic cycles. It also would show that the state has a plan for stabilizing the revenue made available for general fund expenditure in a given year. It sets aside money in the long term for capital improvements and transportation infrastructure without losing sight of the potential need for emergency spending, all seen as positives by rating agencies. Accounts similar to the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund already exist in several other states like Wyoming, with a heavy reliance on oil and fossil fuels. In 2015, Wyoming’s Trust Fund of about $6.9 billion generated about $390 million in interest to help fund government while maintaining a healthy fund balance as a safety net for the state. The fund would help the state find solid financial footing despite the booms and busts of the global oil industry and volatility of corporate tax receipts. Adopting this amendment now is critical because the Legislature is likely to lack the willpower necessary to reintroduce such legislation when times are better and revenue receipts are up. Legislators will have an additional tool at their disposal to address budget crises without having to impose new taxes on citizens or businesses. The fund would reduce political pressure on elected officials to spend new money on pet projects and other priorities that would derail comprehensive, long-term budget reform and create greater uncertainty in future budget years.[2]

Opposition

Opponents

The following legislators in the Louisiana House of Representatives voted "nay" for House Bill 603 during its final reading:[1]

Arguments against

Official arguments

The following argument was published in the PAR Guide to the 2016 Constitutional Amendments:[4]

This proposal further ties the hands of the people’s elected legislators and reduces the flexibility needed to fund priorities appropriately. In order to govern effectively officials need every tool possible at their disposal to capitalize on opportunities or address downturns. If the Legislature is serious about making government more transparent and stabilizing the state’s budget, simpler solutions exist that do not require the creation of yet another trust fund that would further complicate an already convoluted system of transfers, thresholds, and other mechanisms. Reforming the existing Budget Stabilization Trust Fund by removing the cap on the total fund balance or adjusting the types of revenue channeled into the reserve may be more prudent. This amendment is an overly complicated fix. Additionally, the lack of limitations on what might constitute an “emergency” and the twothirds vote authorization to sweep money from the fund undermines the ability of this account to serve its stated purpose. When lawmakers are forced to cut popular programs, raise taxes, or tap into reserves of one-time money, transferring cash from accounts such as the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund would likely be the path of least resistance. The proposal put forward in this amendment fails to establish the trust fund needed to promote real fiscal responsibility.[2]

Background

Previous measures

The Rainy Day Fund, also known as the Budget Stabilization Fund, was first established in 1998 when Louisiana voters approved Amendment 5. In 2015, voters were presented with a proposal to break the fund into two subfunds: one that would still act as the Budget Stabilization Fund and one that would be used for transportation projects, when they voted on Amendment 1. Revenue from Louisiana's minerals would have been directed into the transportation subfund. The measure was defeated. Amendment 5 was similar to Amendment 1 in that it was designed to direct minerals revenue into a fund for transportation projects. Amendment 5 was designed to establish an entirely new fund, however, while Amendment 1 was designed to add a subfund to the existing Budget Stabilization Fund.

Media editorials

Support

  • Houma Today adopted a position of support for Amendment 5 for its 2016 amendment recommendations.[5]
  • The Times-Picayune wrote the following in support of Amendment 5:[6]

This amendment is an attempt to deal with those highs and lows by taking excess revenues out of the normal budget process. Mineral revenues between $660 million and $950 million would be divided two ways. Thirty percent of those revenues would go to pay down unfunded liabilities in two state retirement systems and the other 70 percent would go into the Revenue Stabilization Fund. Corporate tax collections above $600 million also would go into the fund. The Legislature could tap the fund with a two-thirds vote, which is a high enough threshold to prevent it from being raided. If the fund reaches $5 billion, lawmakers could use up to 10 percent of it in a year for capital projects and transportation infrastructure. With oil prices at low levels now, this fund might not grow very quickly. But that situation could change, and it would be smart to have a mechanism in place to set aside money for infrastructure, pension debt or emergencies.[2]

Opposition

Ballotpedia has not yet found any editorial board endorsements in opposition to Amendment 5. If you know of one, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.

Campaign finance

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Louisiana ballot measures
Total campaign contributions:
Support: $0.00
Opposition: $0.00

As of January 19, 2017, no ballot question committees registered to support or oppose Amendment 5.[7][8]

Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the Louisiana Constitution

House Bill 603 was first introduced in the Louisiana State Legislature on March 4, 2016. The bill was approved by the Louisiana House of Representatives on May 17, 2016, and was unanimously passed by the Louisiana State Senate on June 3, 2016.[9]

House vote

May 17, 2016

House Bill 603
ResultVotesPercentage
Approveda Yes 84 95.45%
No404.55%

Senate vote

June 3, 2016

House Bill 603
ResultVotesPercentage
Approveda Yes 32 100.00%
No000.00%

State profile

Demographic data for Louisiana
 LouisianaU.S.
Total population:4,668,960316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):43,2043,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:62.8%73.6%
Black/African American:32.1%12.6%
Asian:1.7%5.1%
Native American:0.6%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
Two or more:1.8%3%
Hispanic/Latino:4.7%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:83.4%86.7%
College graduation rate:22.5%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$45,047$53,889
Persons below poverty level:23.3%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Louisiana.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Louisiana

Louisiana voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.


More Louisiana coverage on Ballotpedia

Related measures

See also: Taxes on the ballot
Government finance measures on the ballot in 2016
StateMeasures
IllinoisIllinois Transportation Taxes and Fees Lockbox Amendment Approveda
AlabamaAlabama Approval of Budget Isolation Resolution Proposing a Local Law, Amendment 14 Approveda
ArizonaArizona Education Finance Amendment, Proposition 123 Approveda
New JerseyNew Jersey Dedication of All Gas Tax Revenue to Transportation, Public Question 2 (2016) Approveda
GeorgiaGeorgia Additional Penalties for Sex Crimes to Fund Services for Sexually Exploited Children, Amendment 2 Approveda
OregonOregon Public University Diversification of Investments, Measure 95 Approveda
UtahUtah School Funds Modification Amendment Approveda

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Louisiana Amendment 5 revenue stabilization trust fund 2016. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

See also

Footnotes