Mississippi lawmakers’ proposed budget retains education spending, cuts unfilled state jobs
Legislative leaders recommended a $5.52 billion state budget Tuesday that would maintain current education funding but cut total state spending in fiscal year 2014 by 0.5 percent, mainly by trimming more than 1,000 state jobs that have gone unfilled for more than 60 days.
The 12 influential members of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee approved the budget proposal that will be sent to the full House and Senate, along with Gov. Phil Bryant’s competing $5.8 billion spending proposal, when legislators return to the Capitol Jan. 8 for their 90-day legislative session.
House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves noted that legislative financial leaders were concerned with eliminating one-time sources of money while funding state needs in the face of a stalled economy.
Commercial Appeal
12/11/12
