Mississippi News
Lawmakers could force local taxes up as they slash state taxes
Legislators could force local officials to raise property taxes as they slash state taxes by record amount
The Mississippi Legislature may end the 2022 session taking credit for a historic tax cut while leaving local officials on the hook to either raise property taxes on their constituents or decide where to make cuts to their school districts.
As gasoline prices rise and overall inflation rates increase, the Legislature is preparing to underfund the program that provides for the basics of operating local school districts by what may be a record amount. The only options for local school districts to deal with the state funding shortfall could be to make cuts or raise local property taxes.
Despite that funding shortfall, the 2022 legislative session still will be recorded as an historic one for public education with the largest teacher pay raise since at least 2000 being enacted. The $246 million teacher pay package has passed the Senate and is expected to be taken up by the House in the coming days. The pay raise will make a substantial difference for Mississippi teachers.
But despite the historic nature of the 2022 session, it still could be considered one of lost opportunities for public education.
While the final budget is yet to be voted on, lawmakers appear on track to fall further behind in funding the Mississippi Adequate Education Program. MAEP, of course, provides the state’s share of funding to provide for the operation of local schools, such as money for teacher salaries, for buses, for utilities, for maintenance and for the other items needed to run a school.
Going into this session, an additional $362.5 million was needed to fully fund MAEP, according to Mississippi Department of Education officials.
Senate Education Chair Dennis DeBar, R-Leakesville, estimated recently during floor debate in the Senate chamber that when the final budget is agreed to later this session, MAEP will be about 10% short of full funding.
In earlier action this session, both the House and Senate in their initial budget proposals increased MAEP funding by about $62 million over what was appropriated during the 2021 session โ or about $300 million short of full funding.
READ MORE: Hosemann fears federal funds might be lost, squandered in battle over taxes
Since 2007, the last time the MAEP was fully funded, it has been underfunded $3.1 billion.ย That number no doubt will grow as a result of actions of the 2022 Legislature. MAEP funding levels are derived by calculating the cost of operating districts that are deemed as adequate based on the state’s performance measures.
In the past lawmakers have used the excuse that there was not enough state revenue to fully fund MAEP โ all the while passing about 50 tax cuts. The last of those tax cuts, which will be fully enacted later this decade, was estimated to cost $415 million annually when passed in 2016.
The Legislature wants to cut taxes again this session. The latest tax cut plan being touted this session by Speaker Philip Gunn to phase out the personal income tax and reduce the sales tax on groceries from 7% to 4% will cost about $2 billion when fully enacted or will cost about one-third of the state’s general fund revenue. The first year of that proposed tax cut would reduce the general fund by about $700 million or about twice the cost of fully funding MAEP.
โWe have enough money to fully fund the (MAEP) program this year,โ said Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory. โWe are choosing not to. We are choosing to do something else with the money.โ
There is enough money because the state is experiencing unprecedented revenue growth and most likely will have a surplus of more than $2 billion when the books close on the 2022 fiscal year on June 30.
Bryan said the cost of operating school districts is increasing because of inflation. He pointed out the rising cost of gasoline and of other items has placed an additional burden on the local school districts, leaving the real possibility that local officials could in the future have to raise property taxes to make up for the shortfall in state funding.
DeBar correctly pointed out that schools will have more money than ever thanks to the teacher pay raise and federal funds provided to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. But those funds cannot be used to buy a gallon of gasoline, a kilowatt of electricity or a textbook.
โWe have funded our schools,โ DeBar said. โThey are getting a lot of money. We will continue to strive to get closer to full funding, but not at the expense of the other liabilities of the state.โ
The real question, though, is whether a record-breaking tax cut is a liability or a choice.
READ MORE:ย Philip Gunn and Delbert Hosemann remain at an impasse on tax cuts
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Mississippi sees 5th largest increase in fatal crashes: study
SUMMARY: A recent study highlights a troubling rise in road fatalities in Mississippi, with a nearly 31% increase in fatal accidents from 2012 to 2021, ranking it fifth highest in the country. The Mississippi Highway Patrol reported a spike during the 2024 Labor Day holiday, responding to seven fatal crashes resulting in 15 deaths, compared to only three crashes and six deaths in 2021. Additionally, a 2023 report showed Mississippi had the highest per capita fatal crashes during the Christmas period. Young drivers are particularly affected, as Mississippi ranks fifth for teenage driving fatalities nationwide.
The post Mississippi sees 5th largest increase in fatal crashes: study appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Vicksburg man charged with assaulting woman in domestic dispute
SUMMARY: In Vicksburg, Mississippi, a domestic assault led to the hospitalization of a man and woman on November 2. Police were alerted by Merit Health River Region after a 28-year-old man, Daron Evans, arrived with a stab wound. Authorities dispatched to the scene found the woman, who had also been assaulted. After receiving treatment, Evans was arrested and charged with aggravated assault domestic violence; he is held without bond until his court appearance. The woman is in stable condition at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. An investigation is ongoing.
The post Vicksburg man charged with assaulting woman in domestic dispute appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Cloudy and humid weekend – Home – WCBI TV
SUMMARY: In Columbus, Mississippi, humid and cloudy weather is expected, with temperatures remaining above average in the lower 80s for the upcoming week. Rain is forecasted for Election Day on Tuesday, continuing into the week with isolated showers likely. This Saturday will see patchy fog in the morning, clearing by midday, with a high around 80 degrees. Sunday will bring similar humidity, with a high in the lower 80s and mild overnight lows in the mid-60s. Throughout the week, expect persistent clouds and humidity alongside mild temperatures.
The post Cloudy and humid weekend – Home – WCBI TV appeared first on www.wcbi.com
-
Kaiser Health News4 days ago
Vance Wrongly Blames Rural Hospital Closures on Immigrants in the Country Illegally
-
SuperTalk FM5 days ago
Tupelo teen Leigh Occhi declared dead after going missing 32 years ago
-
News from the South - Georgia News Feed4 days ago
Co-defendant takes plea deal in YSL RICO trial | FOX 5 News
-
Mississippi News Video4 days ago
Free Clinic of Meridian Celebrates 10 Years
-
Our Mississippi Home6 days ago
Nothing Is More Southern Than Black Eyed Peas
-
News from the South - North Carolina News Feed6 days ago
Wake County father killed in motorcycle crash
-
News from the South - Missouri News Feed6 days ago
Page warns seniors about property tax freeze sign-up events
-
News from the South - Texas News Feed7 days ago
NASA astronaut who was hospitalized after returning from space has been released