Budget would fund schools, insurance
By Staff
from staff and wire reports
Feb. 19, 2004
JACKSON Speaker Billy McCoy says a state House budget proposal expected next week would fully fund public schools, cover a teacher pay raise and pay for all state employees' health insurance.
McCoy, D-Rienzi, said all that will happen without a tax increase although House chairmen said some fees might go up. They did not specify which ones or how large the suggested increases would be.
McCoy said some state agencies could still feel a pinch as lawmakers try to stretch dollars to cover a long list of requests.
Budget proposals by Gov. Haley Barbour and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee would leave public schools $161 million short of what education officials say is needed for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
State Department of Education leaders say that could cause up to 3,000 teachers to lose their jobs.
State legislators are expected to work much of the 2004 Legislature on the state budget for the next fiscal year. But lawmakers aren't expected to approve a final spending plan until the session ends in early May.
Barbour sent lawmakers a letter Wednesday saying he wants to work with them to find more money for elementary and high school education. He urged them to adopt his budget, dubbed "Operation: Streamline," which suggests several cost-cutting measures.
Barbour also has said he wants to offer a variety of options for state employees' health insurance, as the federal government already does. He said some options could require workers and teachers to pay part of their own premiums.
Now, workers and teachers pay only for their dependents' coverage.
McCoy said House leaders have been working into the night for about the past three weeks to examine state agency budgets and prepare their own spending plan. He said efforts have intensified the last 10 days.
Some of Barbour's ideas will be recognizable'' in the House plan, McCoy said.
Barbour on Tuesday said 28 of 52 senators had signed on to sponsor his Operation: Streamline.''In a brief interview Wednesday, Barbour said he knew House leaders were working on a budget.
Senate President Pro Tempore Travis Little, R-Corinth, said the Senate is not preparing its own budget, but Appropriations Committee members are looking for ways to make the most efficient use of tax dollars.
He said the Senate will consider House plans.
