|
NEWS FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: MICK BULLOCK 601-359-3200
“Today’s action by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee was a crucial step in developing a realistic State Budget for 2009,” Lt. Governor Phil Bryant stated. Lt. Governor Bryant believes that it is very important the budget we adopt be based upon the best revenue estimates available. To that end, Lt. Governor Bryant took this step of calling together the Revenue Estimating Group who then presented their report and recommendations to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. The Revenue Estimating Group made the following recommendations: The FY2008 General Fund revenue estimate was revised upward from $4,933,200,000 to $4,954,300,000 for an increase of $21.1 million. The FY2009 General Fund revenue estimate was revised downward from $5,076,000,000 to $5,057,100,000 for a decrease of $18.9 million. After receiving the report of the Revenue Estimating Group, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee voted to approve the group’s recommendations. With these revised revenue estimates now adopted, the budget conferees can proceed to the difficult task of finalizing a state budget for FY 2009. The Lt. Governor would like to thank the members of the Revenue Estimating Group for their hard work and dedication to the betterment of the State of Mississippi. The group consists of the University Research Center, State Tax Commission, Legislative Budget Office, Dept. of Finance & Administration and the State Treasurer. Bryant would also like to thank members of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee that include Speaker of the House Billy McCoy and House Committee Members.
Bryant further explained that while there was an increase of a little more than $20 Million dollars for the current fiscal year, there was a similar decrease of as little less than $20 Million dollars for the upcoming year. Bryant believes it is important to be open and accountable to the taxpayers of Mississippi in the budgeting process. “We will be very conservative in our spending,” said Bryant. “Some in government may call this a reduction. But only in government can reducing the percentage of an increase be described as a cut.” About Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant Phil Bryant was sworn-in as Mississippi’s Lieutenant Governor on January 10, 2008 after capturing 59% of the vote in the November election. He started his career in public service as a Hinds County Deputy Sheriff and was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives from District 59 in Rankin County in 1992 and re-elected in 1995. Bryant was appointed State Auditor by the late Governor Kirk Fordice and re-elected overwhelmingly in 1999 and without opposition in 2003. ### |
