JACKSON — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has cut another $21 million from what started as a nearly $6 billion budget.
Barbour announced $21 million in cuts on Friday, bringing the total reductions to $458.5 million since the fiscal year started July 1.
State revenues have fallen short of expectations for 17 consecutive months, and Barbour says it”s easier for agencies to absorb losses now than it would be in a few weeks.
Most agencies are losing 8.7 percent of their funding for the fiscal year. The latest round of cuts did not include Medicaid, the court system or the state”s payments for long-term debt.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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