The Baton Rouge Advocate reported that Louisiana taxpayers will
spend almost $800,000 to develop, market and promote Governor Bobby Jindal’s
failed tax swap plan. And the bills aren’t done yet even if the plan has been
dead for months.
The state has paid a myriad of companies for products and
services including web site design, public relations, podcasts, accounting and
consultants.
Bills include:
$48,757.39 to Spring Media USA for messaging, website
management and multi media campaign
$30,263.50 to Postlewaite and Netterville, an accounting
firm, for revenue analysis
$26,508.34 to Gooden Group for public relations
$19,900 to Gatorworks for website design and development
$15,000 to St. Julien Public Relations for strategic public
relations and outreach to minority, low income and rural communities
$10,000 to SSA Consultants for identifying stakeholders and
scheduling meetings
Those are in addition to $144,702.23 in payroll and benefits for 8 temporary employees.
Also,
final bills for Ernst and Young for tax modeling and for Alvarez and Marsal for
accounting services are not in yet. Those bills are estimated to be at least
$365,000.