If the 2017 Legislature approves, the proposal would reduce state spending by 3 percentage points overall. Lt. Governor said that cuts would not be made to the Child Protection Agency, traffic officers, Highway Patrol Officers, K-12 education and vocational education as well as foster care. Tate Reeves stated in a press release. After spending weeks studying the budgets of 13 state agencies, groups of lawmakers spent this summer and fall looking at them line-by-line. The ultimate goal was to identify and eliminate “unnecessary expenses.” House Speaker Philip Gunn released a joint statement with Reeves. “This recommendation is consistent with our ongoing goal to budget within our means. We will continue to budget within our means by being disciplined.” Although revenue collections have not met expectations since July 1, the economists predicted a rise in revenue collection for the remainder. Officials, including Gov. Phil Bryant expressed optimism that the state budget for the current year would not be reduced, at least until the end of 2017, during the 2017 legislative session. If economic conditions change between now, and March 2018, lawmakers will likely to amend the Legislature’s proposed budget. Both the Senate and House appropriations committees will use this proposal to create individual appropriations bills for state agency agencies, and produce an overall state budget by March. The working groups identified several “efficiencys” that lawmakers could implement in the 2018 budget. These include: * A year-long moratorium on state vehicle purchases. This will save $19 million. * Eliminate 1,999 state jobs and their funding schedule * Reduce state worker travel, saving $12 millions * Reduce some of the $40 million spent on remediation programs at community college and university, redirecting $4.5million to K-12 education. * Get rid of state employees from regulations governing personnel boards, which saves $13 million. Two percent, or $115.5million, of the budget proposal is available to be put aside in reserve funds. Although this is required by law to take action, lawmakers suspended the 98 percent rule to allow the proposed expenditures to exceed General Fund revenue estimates for Fiscal Year 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2016. The Legislature’s budget proposal is almost identical to the governor’s $6.2 million budget proposal that he released in November. Bryant’s proposed cuts to most state agencies are similar to those made by legislative leaders. Bryant stated that a budget should reflect priorities and that this budget represents how I believe the government can use taxpayer funds to move Mississippi forward. “I realize that not all of this proposal will be approved.” FY18 Legislature budget proposal for largest budgets * K-12 education: $2.2 billion (no changes from FY17) Medicaid: $909.3million (no changes from FY17). * Debt service: $392.2million (no changes from FY17). * Corrections: $309.9million (6.7% less) * Community colleges – Support: $242.5million (6.5% below FY17). * Mental health: $233.2million (3.2% lower than FY17). Our reporters give a human face to policy’s impact on everyday Mississippians by listening more closely and understanding their communities. To ensure that our work is aligned with the priorities and needs of Mississippians, we are listening to you. Click the button below to let us know what you think. Republish this Story
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