- As is the norm in these annual preliminary budget meetings, most agencies requested increased spending.
The Joint Legislative Budget Committee met last week as lawmakers prepare for the upcoming 2027 legislative session which begins in January.
Members of the committee heard from agency heads who presented their budget requests for Fiscal Year 2028.
As is the norm in these annual preliminary budget meetings, most agencies requested increased spending. Some of the increases sought include:
- $2.5 million for the Office of Workforce Development
- $52 million for Child Protective Services
- $10 million for the Department of Mental Health
- $30 million for the Department of Public Safety
- $35 million for Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
- $179 million for Division of Medicaid
- $93 million for the Institutions of Higher Learning
Increases are being sought for a variety of line items from the agencies, including state staff salaries and investment into specific services or projects.
Notably, the Department of Health requested level funding, meaning no increase year-over-year in their $90 million budget. The Department of Finance and Administration also requested level funding in their $102 million budget.
It is now up to appropriations leaders in the Mississippi Senate and House of Representatives to rein the requests in, recommend spending levels, and set revenue estimates for their coming fiscal year.
The joint committee will reconvene on November 4 to review the Legislative Budget Recommendation and adopt a Fiscal Year 2028 revenue estimate.
Lawmakers set the total revenue estimate for Fiscal Year 2027 at $7,532,400,000. The first two months of revenue for the current fiscal year has come in $71.7 million above estimates.
On December 9, the committee will meet again to adopt their recommendation ahead of the 2027 session.
