Budget Cuts Slow Handling Of Mississippi Tax Returns

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – A second round of midyear budget cuts hit just as the Mississippi Department of Revenue was swamped with thousands of individual income tax filings.

Because of the cuts, the department had to send home 35 temporary workers who were hired to open mail.

Spokeswoman Kathy Waterbury says Tuesday that other employees are working extra hours to do the job. That includes auditors, revenue officers and customer-service agents.

Waterbury says employees have worked Saturday and after normal business hours on weekdays to try to catch up.

The Department of Revenue’s budget started at $73.4 million for the year that began July 1.

It has been cut nearly $1.1 million.

Gov. Phil Bryant trimmed budgets for most state agencies in January and April because tax collections have fallen short of expectations.

Categories: State News

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