Budget talks stall over how much to save

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 4/9/8

A disagreement over how much money to put in the state’s rainy day fund has stalled budget negotiations between House and Senate leaders.

The Senate leadership and Gov. Haley Barbour insist the rainy day fund be filled to its legal limit of $385 million, which represents 7.5 percent of the state general fund appropriation.

House leaders want to use about $35 million to bolster funding for such items as education and mental health.

The disagreement is the primary stumbling block to reaching a budget accord for the 2008 session.