Spring Break
Barbour expecting tighter budget
State funds based on education, Medicaid, recovery
Cheryl Alexander
Issue date: 1/25/08 Section: News
Lawmakers are facing fewer resources and higher bills this year as they fight for funds in the 2008 budget session. Education, Medicaid and coastal rebuilding are at the top of the list.
Gov. Haley Barbour said legislators will have a tough budget this year.
"The revenue estimating committee only increased estimates by a little over two percent for the next fiscal year," Barbour said in a press release. "That estimate only brings in around $148 million of new money."
In his State of the State address Monday, Barbour said he wants lawmakers to cut their budgets as much as possible so that new debt will not pile up.
"This will require considerable budget discipline. It means we will have to tell some people no," Barbour said, according to an article in the Sun Herald, "It means good things won't get funded or won't get funded at as high a level as some would like."
State Rep. Cecil Brown (D-Jackson) said, "We have more money available than we had last year, but we had substantial shortfalls in budget areas this year."
Brown said this year will host a fight for the education budget, but he thinks there will be a fight across the board.
The Mississippi Adequate Education Plan, a program that helps local school districts, is requesting $11 million.
State Rep. Gary Chism (R-Columbus) said lawmakers intend to meet that budget request and fully fund the program.
Brown said higher education may fare better with money than last year, but it won't be as much as projected.
Sen. Gary Jackson (D-Kilmichael), a Mississippi State University graduate, said lawmakers are going to fight their hardest to fund higher education as it should be funded.
"Colleges have taken some licks over the years, and we're going to do all we can for them," he said.
Barbour said he remains committed to higher education and that the state must remain competitive in the global marketplace, according to the release.
Gov. Haley Barbour said legislators will have a tough budget this year.
"The revenue estimating committee only increased estimates by a little over two percent for the next fiscal year," Barbour said in a press release. "That estimate only brings in around $148 million of new money."
In his State of the State address Monday, Barbour said he wants lawmakers to cut their budgets as much as possible so that new debt will not pile up.
"This will require considerable budget discipline. It means we will have to tell some people no," Barbour said, according to an article in the Sun Herald, "It means good things won't get funded or won't get funded at as high a level as some would like."
State Rep. Cecil Brown (D-Jackson) said, "We have more money available than we had last year, but we had substantial shortfalls in budget areas this year."
Brown said this year will host a fight for the education budget, but he thinks there will be a fight across the board.
The Mississippi Adequate Education Plan, a program that helps local school districts, is requesting $11 million.
State Rep. Gary Chism (R-Columbus) said lawmakers intend to meet that budget request and fully fund the program.
Brown said higher education may fare better with money than last year, but it won't be as much as projected.
Sen. Gary Jackson (D-Kilmichael), a Mississippi State University graduate, said lawmakers are going to fight their hardest to fund higher education as it should be funded.
"Colleges have taken some licks over the years, and we're going to do all we can for them," he said.
Barbour said he remains committed to higher education and that the state must remain competitive in the global marketplace, according to the release.
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