Brighter Futures Begin with HOPE.

On Thursday, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 budget hearings adjourned. This week, we’ve blogged on a number of the hearings; providing a snapshot of the proceedings. Agency leaders offered some stark examples of what is happening and what could happen if additional sources of revenue are not identified:

• The Mississippi Department of Human Services stated that underfunding its FY 2012 budget request could result in the state of Mississippi being out of compliance with a lawsuit settlement provision requiring more social workers with manageable caseloads to protect children in foster care;
• Of 650 authorized positions, only 527 Highway Trooper positions are filled. In some instances where back-up is needed, the next closest trooper is 35-40 minutes away;
• Class sizes have been increasing due to fewer teachers in Mississippi’s classrooms. One example cited by the State Superintendent included a kindergarten classroom with 34 children;
• Tuitions in the state’s two and four year systems could increase again;
• The average number of Medicaid beneficiaries has increased by over 50,000 as people have lost their jobs with health coverage for children;
• The Department of Mental Health may face the closure of some treatment facilities if its budget is not funded.

Almost every agency with an existing appropriation of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) asked the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to replace those funds with state funds. Replacement of the ARRA funds set to expire remains a tall order as ARRA allocations totaled $383 million in the FY 2011 budget.

The hearings concluded with an economic outlook provided by the State Economist. Some sobering statistics shared included the fact that, as the result of recession-induced job loss, Mississippi now has the same number of jobs as in 1996. Some analysts predict that it may not be until 2015 until Mississippi regains the jobs lost. Housing starts are also 60 percent below pre-Katrina levels. All of these amount to an outlook of slow growth for the foreseeable future.

As lawmakers grapple with tough decisions, now more than ever, all options should be considered – including finding new revenue sources – to ensure that the quality of education, health care, and public safety don’t decline in the future.