Louisiana Amendment 4, Expenditures Limit Growth Formula Amendment (2020)
Louisiana Amendment 4 | |
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Election date November 3, 2020 | |
Topic State and local government budgets, spending and finance | |
Status Defeated | |
Type Constitutional amendment | Origin State legislature |
Louisiana Amendment 4, the Expenditures Limit Growth Formula Amendment, was on the ballot in Louisiana as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 3, 2020. It was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported amending the state constitution to remove the existing expenditure limit formula and 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 "no" vote opposed amending the state constitution to allow the Louisiana Legislature to enact a state spending formula through statute capped at 5 percent growth, thereby maintaining the existing constitutional formula that caps state spending growth at the prior year's spending limit multiplied by the average annual percentage rate of change of personal income for Louisiana for the three years prior. |
Election results
Louisiana Amendment 4 |
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Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
Yes | 856,559 | 44.24% | ||
1,079,618 | 55.76% |
Overview
How would Amendment 4 have changed the formula used to calculate state expenditures?
- See also: Text of measure
Amendment 4 would have changed the formula used to determine how much revenue the state is allowed to spend each year. As of 2020, the Louisiana Constitution capped state spending growth at the prior year's spending limit multiplied by the average annual percentage rate of change of personal income for Louisiana for the three years prior. The measure would have removed the expenditure limit formula from the Louisiana Constitution and allowed the state legislature to enact a spending formula through a statute that does not allow more than 5 percent growth per year. The new proposed formula, if it were approved by voters, would have taken effect on June 30, 2022.[1]
At the time of the election, how many states imposed expenditure limits?
- See also: State spending and revenue limits
As of October 2020, 12 states had imposed spending limits, 13 states had imposed spending and revenue limits, eight states had imposed revenue limits but not spending limits, and 17 states and Washington D.C. had imposed no limits.[2]
Of the 25 states that imposed a state spending limit, 17 states included personal income growth as a factor for setting its spending limit. Eight states did not include personal income growth as a factor. Instead, the eight states used a combination of projected revenue, inflation, or population growth.[3]
How did Amendment 4 get on the ballot?
- See also: Path to the ballot
In Louisiana, a two-thirds vote is needed in each chamber of the Louisiana State Legislature to refer a constitutional amendment to the ballot for voter consideration. Rep. Beau Beaullieu (R) introduced Amendment 4 as House Bill 464 on February 28, 2020. On May 22, 2020, the Louisiana House of Representatives approved the constitutional amendment in a vote of 101-0 with three Democratic representatives absent or not voting and one vacancy. The Senate passed the measure in a vote of 34-0 with five senators absent or not voting on June 1, 2020.[4]
A similar measure was proposed in the 2018 Louisiana legislative session. It passed the state House, but it did not pass the state Senate.
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title was as follows:[1]
“ |
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))[5] |
” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary was as follows:[6]
“ |
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.[5] |
” |
Constitutional changes
- See also: Article VII of the Louisiana Constitution
The measure would have amended section 10(C) of Article VII of the state constitution. The following underlined would have been added, and struck-through text was deleted:[1]
Note: Use your mouse to scroll over the below text to see the full text.
Text of Section 10: Expenditure of State Funds (A) Revenue Estimating Conference. The Revenue Estimating Conference shall be composed of four members: the governor, or his designee, the president of the senate, or his designee, the speaker of the house or his designee, and a faculty member of a university or college in Louisiana who has expertise in forecasting revenues. Changes to the membership beyond the four members shall be made by law enacted by a favorable vote of two-thirds of the elected members of each house. (B) Official Forecast. The conference shall prepare and publish initial and revised estimates of money to be received by the state general fund and dedicated funds for the current and next fiscal years which are available for appropriation. In each estimate, the conference shall designate the money in the estimate which is recurring and which is nonrecurring. All conference decisions to adopt these estimates shall be by unanimous vote of its members. Changes to the unanimous vote requirement shall be made by law enacted by a favorable vote of two-thirds of the elected members of each house. The most recently adopted estimate of money available for appropriation shall be the official forecast. (C) Expenditure Limit. (1) 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. However, the expenditure limit for the 1991-1992 Fiscal Year shall be the actual appropriations from the state general fund and dedicated funds for that year except funds allocated by Article VII, Section 4, Paragraphs (D) and (E). For subsequent fiscal years, the limit shall (2) The expenditure limit may be changed in any fiscal year by a favorable vote of two-thirds of the elected members of each house. Any such change in the expenditure limit shall be approved by passage of a specific legislative instrument which clearly states the intent to change the limit. (3) Beginning with the 1995-1996 Fiscal Year, the expenditure limit shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph (J) of this Section. The redetermination of the expenditure limit for each fiscal year from the 1991-1992 Fiscal Year through the 1994-1995 Fiscal Year shall only be used in computing the expenditure limit for the 1995-1996 Fiscal Year and shall not affect the expenditure limit already computed in accordance with this Paragraph for such fiscal years. (4) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to or affect funds allocated by Article VII, Section 4, Paragraphs (D) and (E).[5] |
Readability score
- See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2020
Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The state legislature wrote the ballot language for this measure.
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Support
Supporters
Officials
- State Representative Beau Beaullieu (R)
Organizations
Arguments
Opposition
If you are aware of any opponents or opposing arguments, please send an email with a link to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Arguments
Campaign finance
Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures | |
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Support | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Oppose | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Ballotpedia did not identify any committees registered in support of or in opposition to the measure.[7]
Background
History of expenditure limits in Louisiana
Louisiana's expenditure limit was first enacted in 1993 with the approval of Amendment 3. It amended the Louisiana Constitution to require that an expenditure limit be established for the next fiscal year during the first quarter of the calendar year of the present fiscal year. The expenditure limit for the next fiscal year equaled the present expenditure limit multiplied by the annual percentage rate of change of personal income from the three prior calendar years. Revenue in excess of the limit was deposited into a reserve fund.[3]
In 1995, the state legislature exempted the following types of appropriations from the expenditure limit:[3]
- federal funds,
- transfers from another state's agencies,
- severance taxes and royalties, and
- programs funded by the motor vehicle license tax.
The following chart includes the state expenditure limit and appropriations enacted by the legislature for fiscal years 2011-2020:[8]
State spending and revenue limits
As of October 2020, 13 states had imposed spending and revenue limits on state budgets, eight states had only imposed revenue limits, 12 states had only imposed spending limits, and 17 states and Washington D.C. had imposed no limits.
Of the 25 states that imposed a state spending limit, 17 states included personal income growth as a factor for setting its spending limit. Eight states did not include personal income growth as a factor. Instead, the eight states used a combination of projected revenue, inflation, or population growth.[3]
The following chart illustrates which states have adopted or not adopted limits:[2]
Amendments on the ballot in Louisiana
- See also: List of Louisiana ballot measures
The following statistics are based on legislatively referred constitutional amendments between 1995 and 2019 in Louisiana:
- Ballots featured 189 constitutional amendments.
- Even-year ballots featured 121 constitutional amendments.
- An average of 10 measures appeared on even-year statewide ballots.
- The number of ballot measures on even-year statewide ballots ranged from four to 21.
- Voters approved 75 percent (141 of 189) and rejected 25 percent (48 of 189) of the constitutional amendments.
Legislatively-referred constitutional amendments, 1995-2018 | |||||||||
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Total number | Approved | Percent approved | Defeated | Percent defeated | Even-year average | Even-year median | Even-year minimum | Even-year maximum | |
189 | 141 | 74.6% | 48 | 25.4% | 10.1 | 8.0 | 4 | 21 |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Louisiana Constitution
In Louisiana, a two-thirds vote is needed in each chamber of the Louisiana State Legislature to refer a constitutional amendment to the ballot for voter consideration.
Rep. Beau Beaullieu (R) introduced Amendment 4 as House Bill 464 on February 28, 2020. On May 22, 2020, the Louisiana House of Representatives approved the constitutional amendment in a vote of 101-0 with three Democratic representatives absent or not voting and one vacancy. The Senate passed the measure in a vote of 34-0 with five senators absent or not voting on June 1, 2020.[4]
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How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in Louisiana
Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Louisiana.
How to cast a vote in Louisiana | |||||
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Poll timesIn Louisiana, polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central time for Tuesday elections. For Saturday elections, polls open at 7:00 a.m. If the polls close while a voter is in line, he or she will still be permitted to vote.[9][10] Registration
To vote in Louisiana, one must be a United States citizen who resides in the state and parish in which he or she registers. A voter must be at least 18 years old by Election Day.[11] Registration completed via mail or in person must occur at least 30 days before Election Day. Registration completed online must occur at least 20 days before Election Day. Registrants must present a valid form of identification to register. Pre-registration is available beginning at age 16.[11] Voters may register in person at any Registrar of Voters office or any of the following places:[11]
Automatic registrationLouisiana does not practice automatic voter registration. Online registration
Louisiana has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Same-day registrationLouisiana does not allow same-day voter registration. Residency requirementsLouisiana law requires 20 days of residency in the state before a person may vote. Verification of citizenshipLouisiana does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. Verifying your registrationThe site Geaux Vote, run by the Louisiana Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirementsLouisiana requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[12] Voters can present the following forms of identification. This list was current as of April 11, 2023. Click here to ensure you have the most current information.
Voters who do not have accepted ID may vote by completing a voter identification affidavit. By law, voters who sign an affidavit may be challenged.[13] Registered voters can bring their voter information card to the Office of Motor Vehicles to receive a free Louisiana special identification card.[12] |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Louisiana State Legislature, "House Bill 464 (Enrolled)," accessed June 1, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, "The State of State (and Local) Tax Policy," accessed June 11, 2020
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 American Enterprise Institute, "State tax expenditure limitation and supermajority requirement: New and updated data," September 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Louisiana State Legislature, "House Bill 464 (2020) Overview," accessed June 1, 2020
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "2020 Ballot Questions," accessed August 20, 2020
- ↑ Louisiana Ethics Administration Program, "Campaign Finance Portal: Louisiana Political Action Committees," accessed June 8, 2020
- ↑ Division of Administration, "State Budgets," accessed July 10, 2020
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "FAQ: Voting on Election Day," accessed April 11, 2023
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "Vote on Election Day," accessed April 11, 2023
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Louisiana Secretary of State, "Register to Vote," accessed April 11, 2023
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Louisiana Secretary of State, "Vote on Election Day," accessed October 3, 2019
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "Louisiana voters' bill of rights and voting information," accessed April 11, 2023
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