What’s On Your Louisiana Ballot: 2020 Amendment 4
Election day is less than a week away, on Tuesday November 3rd.
Since we're so close, we thought it would be a great chance to further explore some of what you'll see on this year's ballot. We can't break down every ballot for every precinct in the state, but if you're looking for your exact ballot, you can find it here. There are 7 proposed Constitutional Amendments in Louisiana this year. You'll also find a measure on Sports Wagering as well.
The first one, Amendment 4, is about adding abortion language to the state's constitution. Here's the text you'll see on your ballot:
Do you support an amendment to limit the growth of the expenditure limit for the state general fund and dedicated funds and to remove the calculation of its growth factor from the Constitution? (Effective June 30, 2022) (Amends Article VII, Section 10(C)(1))
So what does that mean? If passed, this is the explanation from the Secretary of State:
Present Constitution provides that the legislature shall provide for the determination of an expenditure limit for each fiscal year to be established during the first quarter of the calendar year for the next fiscal year.
Present Constitution provides that the expenditure limit for subsequent fiscal years after the 1991-1992 Fiscal Year shall not exceed the expenditure limit for the current fiscal year plus an amount equal to that limit times a positive growth factor.
Present Constitution provides that the growth factor is the annual percentage rate of change of personal income for Louisiana as defined and reported by the United States Department of Commerce for the three calendar years prior to the fiscal year for which the limit is calculated.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment provides that the expenditure limit for subsequent fiscal years after the 1991-1992 Fiscal Year shall be as provided for by law.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment provides that the legislature shall establish by law a procedure to determine the expenditure limit which shall not provide for growth in the expenditure limit of more than 5% in any year. Further provides that once the procedure is established by law, it shall not be changed except by a law enacted by 2/3 of the elected members of each house of the legislature
So what does all of that mean for you?
A vote YES on this Amendment would be in favor of removing the current "expenditure limit formula". Which would allow the Louisiana Legislature to enact a state spending limit formula through statute that does not allow more than 5 percent growth per year.
A vote NO on this Amendment means no change to the current constitution.