JACKSON, MISS– Governor Phil Bryant announced Wednesday that an adjustment would be made to the fiscal year 2017 budget to account for an error discovered earlier this year.
The adjustment will amount to less than one percent.
“I am adjusting the budget for fiscal year 2017 to correct an accounting error that was discovered after the regular legislative session ended,” Gov. Bryant said. “This represents an overall adjustment of less than 1 percent to the state’s $5.8 billion budget. It is the governor’s statutory responsibility to balance Mississippi’s budget. I will uphold that duty.”
Governor Bryant said that work is being done with the legislature to save elsewhere.
“It is important to remember that general fund spending has increased 26 percent, five times the rate of inflation, the last four years. That kind of growth over such a short period of time is simply unsustainable,” said Bryant.
“To address this, the Legislature has assembled a bipartisan panel, led by Speaker Philip Gunn and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, that is already working to enact meaningful reform. Together, we will ensure that taxpayer dollars pay only for those services and programs that have clear benefits for Mississippians.”
Lt. Governor Tate Reeves and Speaker of the House Philip Gunn released a joint statement that said the legislature will also be taking action:
“In accordance with Gov. Bryant’s adjustments in state spending today, the Legislature also will reduce its budget by a corresponding amount. Slower than expected collection of sales taxes and other revenues are providing challenges for Mississippi and other states. We will continue monitoring monthly receipts and spending for any additional action as the fiscal year progresses.”
