Governor’s Budget Provides Increases for Public Safety, Health, and Capitol Projects, “Level” Funding for Underfunded K-12 Schools
November 27th, 2013
Governor Phil Bryant’s budget recommendation for FY 2015 increases state support appropriations by $283 million over the current budget year. Much of that increase goes to the Department of Corrections and Public Safety, Medicaid, new funding for Community Health Centers, and using direct funding for certain capital projects instead of using bonding. The figures above show the percent of state funding recommended for different budget categories and the share of the appropriation increase recommended by category as well.
The Governor’s budget recommends using $70 million (about a quarter of the increase in appropriations) for capital projects as part of a five-year initiative to increase cash appropriations for capital.
That funding would be better spent investing in the state’s current operating needs, like teachers and textbooks for schools through MAEP that would be used this year.
Another area with a large increase recommended for the FY 2015 budget includes funding for the public safety. The Department of Corrections is recommended for a $22.4 deficit appropriation for projected needs for FY 2014 and an increase in $28 million for operating and capital needs for FY 2015. The Department of Public Safety, Department of Military, and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency together are recommended for a 28.7% ($26 million) increase in funding. A task force of law makers, law enforcement, and judicial officials is currently working on ways to improve the state’s corrections system. Mississippi currently has the second highest incarceration rate among states, behind only Louisiana. Reforms which will lessen the budgetary impact of the Department of Corrections should be prioritized.
The Governor’s budget includes a small increase in education funding for implementing a new testing program using the ACT and some funding for capital projects (see discussion of capital projects above). However funding for the state’s school funding formula remains level. Level funding actually means that the for FY 2015, the Governor is recommending underfunding MAEP by $284 million. When adjusted for inflation, the state currently spend $648 less per pupil than it did before the recession.
The Governor’s budget also includes recommendations for an increase for Medicaid spending as well as increases in hospital funding and funding for Community Health Centers. We will address these areas in a second blog post focusing on health in the Governor’s Budget Recommendation.
The Governor’s budget provides a recommendation to the legislature that will meet beginning in January to address the creation of the FY 2015 budget. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee, made up of both house and senate members, will also release a budget recommendation in mid-December. The JLBC’s budget recommendation will serve as the starting point for debate on appropriations bills in the legislature. We will provide more information on the state budget process for FY 2015 as it becomes available.
Share this article.
