Louisiana Legislative Auditor requests $43 million budget; Budget Council adopts $15.295 million general‑fund ask

Mike Wagaspack, Louisiana Legislative Auditor, presented the office's 2026–27 budget request to the Budget Council and said the total means of financing are "roughly $43,000,000," with a State General Fund ask of "$15,295,000," the same amount requested the previous year. He told members the advisory council (LAC) had approved the request and that the office expects a fund balance of about $9,100,000 to $9,200,000 at the end of the fiscal period.

Wagaspack summarized staffing and capital needs and said the office has been "good stewards of the money," maintaining the fund balance so the agency can "dip in" if necessary. When a member asked about debt service, Wagaspack explained it relates to a recent server replacement: "that is some, Dell servers that we had, 0% interest on, non appropriation clause. It's going to be paid out over, I think, a 5 year period." The comment described the timing and financing for the IT purchase rather than an increase to the annual general‑fund request.

The Chair asked whether a formal vote was required; no member objected when the Chair moved to adopt the item and the Chair declared the Legislative Auditor budget adopted. The council did not record a roll‑call tally in the transcript. The adoption applies to the budget request as presented to the council.