The inventory tax credit is scheduled to disappear. Business lobbyists aim to save it.

The Landry administration and state legislators have pared back numerous tax credits over the past year.

But lawmakers are moving forward with plans to keep alive, at least temporarily, a tax break that primarily benefits oil and gas and chemical companies.

The proposed one-year extension of the credit for property taxes paid on business inventory would cost the state treasury $200 million over three years, according to a legislative analysis.

That tax expenditure is equivalent to awarding one-year raises of $2,000 to teachers and $1,000 to school support staff.

Neither the sponsor, of House Bill 383 , Rep. Ken Brass, D-Vacherie, nor business lobbyists have said retaining the tax credit for at least another year would lead to additional investment and job creation.

While speaking