State agencies try to spare jobs amidst budget cuts

The Clarion-Ledger, 11/13/8

State lawmakers ended budget talks today and will make their spending recommendations for fiscal year 2010 next month.

The recommendations by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee are a guide for lawmakers when the full Legislature reconvenes in January. Gov. Haley Barbour will announce his spending recommendations on Monday.

It’s expected to be another tight budget year, since state revenues are less than what lawmakers had anticipated. Barbour said he expects revenues to keep falling.

He announced $42 million worth of cuts this week for the current fiscal year that runs through June 30. Barbour has also told state agencies to prepare for cuts for the next fiscal year that begins July 1.