Mississippi News is a non-profit news organization. All Mississippi state politicians are running for office or not. They all have their own opinions on how to fill the gap created by the inability of the Legislature to appropriate sufficient funds during the 2019 session. This was due to a miscalculation made by the Mississippi Department of Education. Since Mississippi Today’s last week report that the Legislature failed to provide sufficient funding for the pay increase, there has been much discussion about how to fund it. The state law provides that the 31,000 teachers in kindergarten-12th grade will still receive their raise. However, unless the Legislature gives additional money, local school districts will have to make up any difference. This shortfall could amount to as high as $15 million. Both Gov. Phil Bryant, and Lt. Governor. Tate Reeves and Phil Bryant basically say that the additional funds could be provided by the Legislature as a deficit allocation during the 2020 session which begins in January. As the 2020 session starts, the pay increase will take effect on July 1, 2019. This will be the midpoint of the first year for the salary bump. This year is an election year, and 2020 will see a new Legislature. Reeves is running to be governor. He hopes to succeed Bryant. However, there are no guarantees. Bryant will not be seeking another office. Reeves will act as lieutenant governor during the session’s first two days, until his successor is sworn into office. Bryant will remain in office for approximately a week. Some feel that waiting until the next session would be too long. “This situation must be rectified immediately. The Mississippi Association of Educators stated in a statement that it was impossible for the districts to correct the MDE’s mistakes and the state leadership’s inability to act immediately. “Our districts and our teachers are asked to pick-up the slack when the state refuses time and again to step in,” Jay Hughes, a D-Oxford State Representative, stated that a shorter special session might be the best way to solve the problem. Hughes stated that deficit appropriation is another name for fiscal irresponsibility. “It basically states that we need to let someone else fix our mess up. Bryant stated last week that he wouldn’t call a special meeting. The governor blamed the Department of Education, claiming it provided incorrect information to legislators about the cost of the raise. Because of a state agency error, he said that Mississippi’s taxpayers should not be required to pay for a special session. He suggested that the agency should be able to take money from its budget for the pay increase and that the Legislature could make a deficit appropriation for it during the 2020 session. The Department of Education had not yet provided any comment as to how many teachers are affected and whether the budget can be used to compensate. Cecil Brown, former state fiscal officer, was a key member of House Appropriations Committee. He questioned whether it would have been permissible for the agency take money that had been earmarked for other purposes and use it for the pay increase. They may do it, and nobody can sue them. Brown stated that if they did this, they may have to lay off people. Hughes’ Republican opponent, Secretary of State Delberthosemann, said the shortfall was “unconscionable.” He also called the annual teacher pay increase bill “unconscionable.” Hosemann stated that MDE would do everything necessary to alleviate any hardship on the districts and ensure that teachers get the money they deserve. Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr. is running to challenge Reeves in Republican primaries. He stated that “every teacher must be included in this recent pay increase and I hope this situation is resolved as soon as possible.” In January’s legislative session, education will be at the forefront of my agenda, including my goal for a teacher raise. Robert Foster, a Republican primary candidate, stated that while a deficit appropriation might solve the problem, better long-term planning and prioritization can help prevent future problems. This is an excellent example of why we need to have a leader with business experience rather than a politician running for the office. On the Democratic side Jim Hood, the favorite among the eight candidates, stated that “for too long, our teachers have been underpaid thousands more than the Southeastern average. As governor, I will fund our schools and raise teacher pay a priority.” Hinds County district attorney Robert Shuler Smith, also a Democrat, stated that a special session might not be cost-effective, considering the money was already appropriated and signed off by the governor. Although it shouldn’t be difficult, though frustrating for our school districts, it should not be difficult to demand that proper accounting be done within reasonable time.” The governor could take money from the state rainy day fund to pay the extra cost of the raise.
In a press release, the Democrats stated that they believe that this would be the fastest, easiest, and most logical way to address the problem. The Working Cash Stabilization Fund is also known as the rainy day fund. It is used to address shortfalls in state revenue collection when they are below projections or not sufficient to cover the budget passed and signed by the governor. To support this important work, you can make a regular donation to the Spring Member Drive today.