While the state is in tight constraints fiscally, many parishes, like Concordia, are watching to see how the tight budget will affect capital outlay funds this year.

In the bill authored by state House Ways and Means Chairman Bryant Hammett, D-Ferriday, Concordia and Tensas parishes have lots of projects awaiting appropriations. The bill was considered in the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs committee Tuesday but no actions were taken on the bill.

Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland said he hopes the town will be able to get the funding it asked for, about $5 million he said, to fund infrastructure for the Industrial Park and the loading and unloading facility that will help with the potential industries Vidalia is talking to now.

But, the budget is &uot;extremely tight,&uot; he said, &uot;probably the tightest we’ve ever had.&uot;

In the body of the bill, Concordia was listed for many projects and dollars in the next fiscal year, beginning July 1 and lasting through June 30, 2005.

For the Vidalia Industrial Park Development, $500,000 was listed to come directly from the state general fund and $5.64 million from general obligation funds, totaling $6.14 million.

And for Riverfront development and the Visitor’s Welcome Center, which Copeland said Tuesday would be bid out in July with hopes of accepting those bids by September, was listed in the bill for $4.13 million.

Both of those Vidalia projects had in-kind local contributions as well as local, federal and other matching funds for the industrial park development.

For the planning and construction of the Louisiana Delta Music Museum, listed under projects by the Secretary of State’s office, the bill ask for $1.24 million.

Also in Ferriday, the bill labeled the Downtown Revitalization project for $1.385 million dollars with a local match of funds required totaling more than $250,000.

The Concordia Parish Airport was listed for $50,000, which also would require a local match of funds.

Almost $2 million was listed for installation, planning and construction of the Black River Lake drainage structure.

Concordia also was named, along with Avoyelles, East Carroll, Madison, Point Coupee and Tensas parishes, for money to raise the Mississippi River levee.

Tensas did not miss out on appropriations in the house bill.

Almost $550,000 was listed for a new multi-purpose community facility in Tensas and $100,000 for the St. Joseph Sheperd Center.

Also, $700,000 for hospital renovations, $400,000 for a youth agriculture arena and $90,000 for culvert extensions were included in the bill for Tensas Parish.

More than $400,000 was listed for the Lake Bruin State Park, new campground, new gatehouse and roads and construction, as well.