Inconsistency marks Mississippi’s education spending

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Editorial, 1/28/9

With Mississippi’s economy worsening right along with the rest of the country, the crippling revenue shortfalls that are plaguing state and local governments will eventually focus attention on education spending – and not in a good way.

As a matter of fact, one high-ranking state elected official shared with me this week a Joint Legislative Budget Office analysis of education spending in Mississippi from Fiscal Year 2005 through FY 2009. At first blush, the numbers appear to paint a portrait of a state educational system that is funded competitively.

Mississippi hasn’t thrown money at education. It has juggled it from cuts to increases to cuts to increases and back to cuts.