State Department Of Health Requests Budget Increase

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – After two years of reductions, the Mississippi State Department of Health is requesting a modest budget increase for the coming year.

The state health officer, Dr. Mary Currier, says the department has cut expenses by going from nine administrative districts to three.

But she tells lawmakers Wednesday that the change has made management difficult and she would like six districts.

The state-supported part of the Health Department budget was $62 million last year and is $57 million this year.

An early proposal would give the department a small reduction for the year that starts July 1, but Currier is requesting an increase of $3.4 million.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Eugene “Buck” Clarke says he will consider the request because the Health Department “got cut deeply in the last two years.”