WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - Gov. Bobby Jindal gave no new details today on his plans to eliminate the state's income tax when he preview his proposed budget plans for next year.

Jindal said he is still meeting with legislators to discuss revenue-neutral solutions to eliminating the state income tax, and it would be ready for the legislative session.

The governor also said he's relying on "significant savings" from plans to privatize LSU's charity hospitals in his $24.7 billion plan. Congress cut hundreds of millions of dollars in federal Medicaid funding last year, and Jindal said turning over many of the hospitals to private companies would cover much of the budget gap those cuts created.

He said the budget calls for 10,000 fewer state government jobs, and most of that would be from positions being absorbed through the hospital public-private parntership.

Jindal also said the budget has small cuts to the state health department, and when spending for colleges will stay flat when coupled with tuition increases.

The full proposal and details will be outlined Friday to lawmakers.