SolvetheBudget.com Challenges Users to Set Spending Priorities
Baton Rouge, La. — Ever thought you could do a better job balancing Louisiana’s budget? A new online tool, SolvetheBudget.com, now offers citizens a chance to test their fiscal skills and simulate the tough decisions faced by lawmakers and the governor.
Developed as an educational resource, the interactive platform allows users to answer more than three dozen yes/no tax and spending questions, instantly showing whether their choices keep the state’s budget balanced—or not.
Users begin with the $25.3 billion in state funding proposed by Governor Jeff Landry for the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1. As participants make decisions on taxation and spending across sectors like education, health care, coastal protection, and transportation, a red or green bar dynamically tracks whether their choices create a budget surplus or deficit.
Each question includes a “Learn More” option for users wanting deeper insight into the complexities behind state finances.
“SolvetheBudget.com provides a glimpse into just how tricky it can be to set priorities and make the numbers work,” organizers said. “It’s a quick but eye-opening exercise in fiscal policymaking.”
The project is a collaboration between the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR), The Advocate | Times-Picayune, and the LSU Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs.
Completing the simulation takes less than 10 minutes, offering a far faster experience than the months-long legislative budget process. After finishing, users can compare their results with others and share their outcomes on social media.
Importantly, SolvetheBudget.com does not advocate for any particular choices or outcomes—it is designed to educate, not influence.
For more information, contact:
- Len Apcar, LSU Manship School of Mass Communication: [email protected]
- Michael DiResto, LSU Reilly Center: [email protected]
- Steven Procopio, Public Affairs Research Council: [email protected]
Explore the tool at SolvetheBudget.com.