The Mississippi Legislature convened a special session today to finalize the state budget. The PreK-12 appropriation bill, HB 42, was passed by the House Appropriations Committee and the full House and should be taken up by the Senate tomorrow. Explaining the bill in committee, House Appropriations E Chairman Karl Oliver said that HB 42 fully funds the Mississippi Student Funding Formula but alluded to a $25.9-million decrease in the required full funding amount due to an “adjustment in the estimate from MDE.” Later in the meeting, he referred to the change as resulting from an “overpayment last year,” mentioning a “decrease in enrollment.”
While total formula funding for public schools in HB 42 is $4.1-million more than what MDE calculated and the CPA firm verified in December, that includes funding to cover the increases in educators’ health insurance premiums and PERS. Pre-k and other important education programs are at least level funded. Also included is a $2-million increase in ESA voucher funding for children with special needs, funding that is intended to clear the waiting list, despite the fact that the ESA program has never in any year used all of the funding it was appropriated.
No items beyond the state budget have been added to the special session agenda, and none are expected to be added.
We’ll have more details for you tomorrow. Together, we’ve got this!
