BATON ROUGE - The LSU Economic Development District collected nearly a million dollars in about a year. A year after a lawsuit challenged the district, attorneys say emails reveal that university leadership questioned how the district would spend tax dollars.

As part of discovery in an ongoing lawsuit former Metro Council member Darrel Glasper filed against LSU’s Economic Development District, emails show conversations between LSU President Wade Rousse and Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s president Chris Meyer.

The emails raised concerns about whether tax-district funds are being used. In February 2026, Meyer requested contributions of up to $200,000 from the LSU EDD to support a March 2026 Zach Bryan concert and another $200,000 for a scheduled May 2026 concert by Post Malone and Jelly Roll, but that concert never took place.

By June, LSU President Wade Rousse asked where that money went and whether it was appropriate for the EDD to spend that money on concerts. Then CFO Brandi Roberts responded, saying taxes collected for the EDD should be directed to property acquisitions and improvements.

Attorney William Most says he believes that sales tax collection comes with legal strings attached.

“In Louisiana, we require voter approval for sales tax increases for good reason. So sneaky tricks to try and avoid the voters entirely are just taxation without representation,” Most said.

A source close to LSU says no conversations have taken place regarding where the money collected from the EDD will be spent.