State funding eyed
at COG meeting

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
July 20, 2004
State funding was a major topic of discussion at the Lauderdale County Council of Governments meeting Monday.
State Rep. Greg Snowden, R-Meridian, said he did not expect another special session to be called this year by Gov. Haley Barbour, but said it's possible, noting the Legislature did not pass any bond bills during the regular session.
The Legislature has been called into two special sessions this year to address tort reform and reauthorization of the Department of Human Services.
Snowden said Medicaid reforms passed by the Legislature that will move about 65,000 poor, elderly and disabled Medicaid recipients over to Medicare is still a major concern.
Snowden said the governor's office is sending letters to the 65,000 people affected by the reform and telephone calls to assist people to get the help they need by the Sept. 15 deadline for the change in Medicaid.
Snowden said the Medicaid issue was one of several tough choices the Legislature made this year in an effort to reduce spending.
Local burden
Lauderdale County District 3 Supervisor Craig Hitt said city and county taxes are being called on to fund some areas not being funded by the state anymore.
Snowden said it will be incumbent on every element of government at every level to take a hard look at what its resources are and to make the decisions the taxpayers and citizens expect elected officials to make.