Education, infrastructure and debt services are just three priorities state lawmakers expect to tackle when the 2017 Legislative session begins Tuesday. 

During the 2016 session, the state’s Legislature at the behest of Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, enacted a package of tax cuts to be phased in over the next few years. Lawmakers were hesitant to say if additional cuts are on the horizon.

The 2017 fiscal year begins July 1. Lawmakers won’t write their budgets until March.

State Senate President Pro Tem Terry C. Burton (R-Newton), Speaker Pro Tem Greg Snowden (R-Meridian) and Rep. Charles Young Jr. (D-Meridian), who represents District 82, were all asked their thoughts on what they expect once the legislative session begins.

All three were asked about priorities for 2017, possible budget cuts to state agencies, are more tax cuts looming, funding for hot-button issues like infrastructure and education and what will change in the state under a Donald Trump presidency.

Rep. Greg Snowden

Budget cuts?

“The necessity for cuts is a direct reflection of declining or stagnant revenue. The state government, thankfully, is constrained in its spending by the amount of tax revenue actually coming in. We cannot simply print money and go into debt as the federal government regularly does (the national debt is now an unsustainable $20 trillion and growing).  Final budgets for all agencies will not be finalized until late March or early April. State revenues continue very modest growth, so the hope is that the budget for the upcoming year (FY 2018) will not reflect any further serious reductions in agency funding.

Priorities for 2017:

“In no particular order: Campaign finance reform, overhaul of our antiquated K-12 education funding formula, infrastructure needs (roads and bridges) and, perhaps the long-overdue examination of our overall tax structure. Along with enacting the budget itself, which always is a priority, those three items will be at the top of the list to tackle in some form or fashion during the 2017 session.”

Funding for infrastructure or education:

“I believe there will be major changes for the better. Overall education funding will not be reduced; indeed I’d predict it will increase, as it has just about every year. But we will focus on putting more money into the classroom, for instruction, relative to administration. Also, I’d expect to see many of the things now funded outside of the antiquated current MAEP formula to be included within an overall funding plan in the new formula. This will yield more transparency and efficiency and should give us a better bang for our education dollars.

“As far as infrastructure is concerned, we are very aware of the problems, and continue to to seek fiscally responsible ways to address the needs everyone acknowledges we have.”

Trump presidency:

“That remains to be seen. Clearly, our governor and many other state leaders will have a much closer relationship to a Trump administration than has been the case for the past eight years. I believe this is a priority which can mean good news for our state.”

Rep. Charles Young

Priorities for 2017:

“Priorities will be generating additional revenue so we won’t have to make any more budget cuts. We can’t stand any additional tax cuts. Businesses we’re giving tax cuts to don’t need cuts as much as the citizens of Mississippi need benefits and services that are being cut because of a lack of revenue.”

Budget cuts?

“Over the past four years. we’ve lost over 140 jobs in east Mississippi due to cuts in mental health. This year (2017) means we will lose additional jobs at East Mississippi State Hospital and the Kemper facility. The state has been looking at ways to cut mental health care in the Department of Medicaid. The biggest percentage cut were for the schools for the blind and deaf. Approximately $170 million of the total cuts were in mental health. Budget cuts will come in Highways Safety Patrol, Institutions of Higher Learning, and community and junior colleges and the Department of Health.     

Funding for infrastructure or education:

“Funding for infrastructure will come down from the federal level as it always has. The problem with education is not money. We change the rules every other year for education and also turned testing into a money pot. We contract with a testing company for over $110 million per year.”

A Trump presidency:

“A whole lot is going to change under Trump. The first change will be to the rules. If you don’t know what the rules are how are you going to govern? A far as taxes, the rule was grow up, go to school, get a job, get married and die. He already said he doesn’t pay taxes. He has over 70 pending lawsuits against him. How can a person make money off a failed business? We do need to tighten up our borders. If foreign entities don’t want to abide by our agreements in place, we need to take a look a more aggressive stance.”

Sen. Terry Burton

Priorities for 2017:

“Obviously education is our top priority. Education and debt service are two budgets that remain flat. We’re keeping them whole. No cuts in this year’s budget is the recommendation for this year’s budget. Education is the top priority for K-12, community colleges and universities.”

Funding for infrastructure or education:

“We’ll look at what we can do with infrastructure and Medicaid. Public safety, health and welfare, education and infrastructure are the top four big issues. There is still money to be spent. There is still one- time money we did not allocate; any talk about a budget cut is premature.”

Trump presidency:

“I wanting to see a different approach on Medicaid and infrastructure issues. The responsibility for tax reform is at the state level. On Jan. 20, when Trump is sworn, in we’ll see a different attitude about states taking care of their own affairs.”