Lawmaker: Miss. Spending to Rise by $168 Million

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A top Mississippi budget writer says lawmakers will agree to spend $168 million more than previous estimates called for in the year beginning July 1.

House Appropriations Chairman Herb Frierson, a Poplarville Republican, says money has been set aside for a $1,500 pay raise for all teachers and a $1,000 pay raise for some state employees who make less than $30,000 a year.

Negotiators continued meeting Saturday, agreeing to file placeholder bills to technically meet an 8 p.m. deadline, with a plan to reveal the actual numbers later. Lawmakers have until Monday’s end to approve budgets.

Frierson says the state will also pay to train a class of state troopers.

Lawmakers plan to add $10 million to Mississippi’s K-12 funding formula, although that far from fills its gap.