May Tax Collections Up In Mississippi

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi tax collections picked up in May but are still lagging as the state enters the final month of its budget year.

Figures from the Department of Revenue show tax collections were about $103 million short of expectations the first 11 months of the year. That’s about a 2 percent shortfall.

Republican Gov. Phil Bryant says he doesn’t know whether another round of budget cuts will be needed before the year ends June 30. He says cuts could be avoided if the economy improves.

The governor has already trimmed $65 million from what started as a more than $6 billion spending plan. He headed off deeper cuts by pulling more than $45 million from the rainy day fund and giving that to agencies.