State Rep. Sam Mims of McComb says this year’s budget was the most challenging he’s faced during six years as a legislator.
But two years from now, it could be harder if the economy doesn’t turn around, Mims told the McComb Rotary Club on Wednesday.
A member of the club, Mims, a Republican who represents District 97, reviewed this year’s legislative actions, including regular and special sessions.
“I think we have way too many special sessions,” Mims admitted, before discussing philosophical differences between the House speaker and a majority of its members on the one side as opposed to the state Senate, the Republican minority in the House and Gov. Haley Barbour.
That has led to certain logjams during regular sessions, resulting in special sessions to take care of specific issues.
But this year, Mims said, delaying the budget beyond the regular session was necessary because of uncertainty over how federal stimulus money could be spent.
Finally, the day before the new fiscal year began July 1, lawmakers, in special session, did adopt a budget of almost $6 billion. It is balanced, Mims said, although it contains “parts I don’t like.”
It includes reductions in spending by most state agencies averaging between 4 and 6 percent, but Mims thinks “there’s still a lot of waste in state government.”
Education, at all levels, saw an increase in revenues, he said, thanks to federal stimulus money.
Out of $2.8 billion designated for Mississippi in stimulus money, all except $60 million was accepted. That $60 million would have required Mississippi to cover part-time workers with unemployment benefits.
Mims says he worries about future budgets when stimulus funds run out, especially in 2011. He thinks the Legislature should have pared back expenses more this year.
Mims also:
• Said he voted against two cigarette tax increases, one on all cigarettes and another on just cheaper companies that weren’t a part of a lawsuit settlement with the state, because it “opens the door for more taxes.” It wasn’t about health, he said, but raising money.
• Pointed out the Legislature adopted a sales tax free shopping weekend in late July, a move he supported.
• Said he and Democratic Rep. David Myers, also from McComb, allowed a local motel tax to die at the end of this year because they thought the proceeds were being spent inappropriately. He thinks the issue will be addressed again in the future.
