MS Lawmakers Propose Smaller 2016 Budget

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Top lawmakers are proposing a slightly smaller Mississippi budget for the coming year, despite their expectation that state revenue will increase.

The 13-member Joint Legislative Budget Committee on Tuesday released its $6 billion spending blueprint for fiscal 2016, which begins July 1.

House Speaker Philip Gunn says the plan could be changed once it’s debated by the full House and Senate. Lawmakers start meeting in January, and they have an early April deadline to adopt a spending plan.

The proposed budget would set aside money for the second year of a teacher pay raise, but it would fall about $280 million short for the school funding formula, the Mississippi Adequate Education Program.

The proposal would save money by reducing travel, limiting purchase of equipment and eliminating 2,200 vacant government jobs.