Legislature working to finalize state budget

Legislature slashes budgets, ponders taxes, borrowing

Lawmakers worked into the night Sunday on a $6 billion state budget, passing major cuts to most agencies as Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and House Speaker Philip Gunn and their lieutenants continued back-room haggling over cutting taxes and borrowing.

The budget work is expected to continue at least through Monday, as lawmakers try to finish the 2016 session this week. Some legislators on Sunday questioned the wisdom of trying to cut more taxes when state revenue is in the dumps — in part because of tax cuts over the last few years — and agency budgets are being slashed.

Hattiesburg American
4/17/16