If a series of proposed tax increases fails to pass in Louisiana, the state’s college sports — including LSU football — could lose funding and be canceled beginning in April, according to Governor John Bel Edwards.
In a televised speech on Thursday, Edwards outlined the worst-case scenario if the state fails to act on its budget crisis.
SI.com reports that if the tax increases fail to pass, state-funded healthcare and higher education institutions will run out of money on April 30.
“Student athletes across the state would be ineligible to play next semester,” Edwards said.
“If you are a student attending one of these universities, it means that you will receive a grade of incomplete, many students will not be able to graduate, and student-athletes across the state at those schools will be ineligible to play next semester," he continued. "That means you can say farewell to college football next fall.”
Louisiana State University is already facing possible budget cuts that would impact students.
On Jan. 22 LSU President, F. King Alexander, sent a letter to students that warned them of a possible $131 million budget cut to higher education that would mean $65 million in cuts for the entire LSU System.
Despite these cuts, if Edwards’s tax proposal is accepted, it would save the Tigers for the 2016 season only.
The state will still face a $2 billion budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year.
