Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
3:23 pm Friday, March 30, 2001

Legislature v. Musgrove: No time to panic

By Staff
March 25, 2001
As the 2001 Session nears its final days, I believe the people of Mississippi expect our legislative leaders to make unselfish, realistic decisions in providing for the services we all have come to expect from state government.
A serious disagreement has arisen between the Legislature and the Governor's Office concerning the Fiscal Year 2002 budget.
We all are seeking the same result to provide for the people of our state. We just disagree on how to do that and at what cost.
The Legislature believes we must be realistic in our response to this economic downturn, but we should not over-react.
The plan recommended by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee already contains $245 million in cuts for Fiscal Year 2002, which begins in July. This plan has deeply stripped out equipment purchases, travel and other operating costs. We can adjust for lean operations.
Next step
But the next cuts would go beyond copy machines, vehicles and travel.
The next cuts are people. I do not believe we should cut vital services when conditions are not dire.
The next cuts would devastate and demoralize our educational programs at the K-12 level and in our community and junior colleges and universities all of which will experience substantial revenue reductions under the Legislature's plan.
These next cuts supported by the Governor will eliminate essential programs from human services and mental health to Medicaid, public safety, health care and economic development.
These additional cuts would cripple state government across the board and threaten the very integrity of public education, public health and public safety.
No emergency
The Legislature would be irresponsible to take such extreme action, when we are not in a fiscal emergency.
Our budget professionals have worked very hard to give us their best advice on possible consequences of different courses of action. We are fortunate to have their experience, as well as the many years of valuable experience from our appropriations chairmen. They do not believe it is time to panic. I agree. Our state economy is still growing, just not as fast as we became accustomed to during the 1990s.
Economic good times and bad come in cycles. Experts tell us that Mississippi usually feels a downturn first and comes out of it first. And we have not factored in the positive effects from construction of the new Nissan plant in Madison County, possible federal income tax cuts or reductions in interest rates made by the Federal Reserve Board.
Safety nets'
Our budget professionals assure us that even if our state growth rate is no higher than 2.5 percent, we already have well-established budget "safety nets." If we have an opportunity to avoid unnecessarily harsh measures, we should.
If the 2002 budget revenue projection is reduced to 1 percent, as the governor has urged, on top of 13.5 percent cuts already planned in the General Fund, an additional $180 million will need to be cut from the Fiscal Year 2002 budget. If those cuts must come from personnel, that may translate into 3,000 jobs, which would mean reduced services to our people.
Our appropriations chairmen and our budget professionals believe we can achieve our more conservative budget plans by the cost-cutting measures we already have established. If conditions worsen, the Legislature will be back in session next January and can consider what additional measures to take.
I believe we must govern conservatively on the side of caution especially when we are talking about people's lives. I believe it is time to move forward with caution and reserve drastic measures only for when they are absolutely necessary.
Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck serves as president of the Mississippi Senate.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025