Video: MS Senate Advances Early Budget Proposals

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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – A Mississippi Senate panel is advancing early budget proposals that would cut spending by 5 percent for many agencies.

The plan would put more money into schools, but would still be $130 million short of full funding of an education budget formula.

Bills that passed the Appropriations Committee on Tuesday will go to the full Senate. Other budget bills are coming from the House.

The two chambers will exchange proposals, and negotiators will meet in a few weeks to details of a final spending plan of more than $6 billion. Fiscal 2017 begins July 1.

Legislators are also filling holes in the current year’s budget. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Eugene “Buck” Clarke, a Hollandale Republican, says that includes a proposal of nearly $52 million to cover a shortfall for Medicaid.