Louisiana TOPS Funding Uncertainties

Thinking about it but we have one who is done, one who is starting college in the summer and a soon to be sophomore in high school. Not sure if it's really worth it or just put the tuition we were paying for Catholic school aside from child #2.

And we don't have the state plan ... it's Louisiana and maybe I'm dumb, but I don't trust it being there.

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Have any of ya'll ramped up savings in 529 plans or other vehicles for your children with all the uncertainty with the funding of TOPS and eligibility requirements?

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No.

But I am of the opinion that my kids will either get a scholarship to go to college, or, they will get financial aid in the form of loans, etc. They may also go to junior college for a year or two if needed.

Now, if I was able to fully max out my retirement and still had money left over, then maybe I would consider doing this.

But I can always help them when they get to college if needed, or pay back some of their loans.

I feel like college is a time of learning. That includes taking responsibility for their own education. I will certainly help them, but I'm not writing a check for their total college costs.

Is that the same money that JBE pledged to use only for coastal restoration just a few weeks ago?

It's a political football. John Bell is trying to force a special session after the regular session where he can use TOPS as a threat to get more tax money to pay for cost of living adjustments for retirees, medicaid expansion, ect. The republicans are trying to show that revenue forcasts have changed, that the state actually has enough money to save TOPS in the general session (at least for the fall), and then see if the projections bare out. If they don't, then they could call a midyear session in September and possibly cut TOPS for the Spring semester.

TOPS is nothing but a bargaining chip at this point.