Random Thoughts and Ramblings on State Budgets

The Mississippi State Legislature will return to Jackson tomorrow to begin the business of running this great state of ours. Traditionally one of the first things they’ve done is pass themselves a “cost of living” raise in their pay (consider this: Being on the Legislature is a part time job; these people all have regular jobs at home). However, they may want to consider whether or not this is wise considering all of the financial gloom-and-doom that Governor Hailey Barbour has been preaching for the last several months. Every month the state’s revenue is lower than expected and every month the governor gets out his budget axe and makes cuts across the board at five percent (the max allowed by law). Things are getting to the point that one has to ask, “what’s left to cut?” I mean, if he cuts education much more we’re going to have to go back to using chalk boards and collected the dust that falls to the floor to be recycled into new chalk sticks for the said chalk boards. Ok, maybe not quite that far but there are things that the State of Mississippi can do in order to save money. Consider the following:

1. There should be an immediate hiring freeze on all non-essential positions within the state payroll (this should not apply to the Department of Public Safety, Department of Corrections, Department of Revenue and education – these departments are too vital to impose a Legislature-mandated freeze and it should be up to them to decide what is and what isn’t essential). Also, raises should be postponed indefinitely except for the departments mentioned above – again, it should be up to those departments to determine personnel matters.

2. All of those holding elected state offices should be forced to take a pay cut. I know I don’t like my paycheck to be messed with but elected officials need to lead by example when asking all of these other departments to be cut to the bone and even lay people off. Governor Barbour’s salary is $101,800. I think he could stand to have a couple of thousand shaved from his salary. That’s more than most of the state’s workers make in three or four years.

3. Go to four day work weeks for most state departments and allow the public schools to have four days weeks. Yes, this would mean employees and students would have to attend their respective jobs and classes for longer periods but this would save money in transportation for these employees and students and energy savings would be seen since electricity and other utilities wouldn’t be used for an extra day per week.

4. Cull the state’s motor pool. There is no reason for the state to have as many vehicles as they do. There is no reason why certain departments should even have vehicles in the first place. Doing mileage and gas reimbursements should save the state money since they would not have vehicles of their own to insure, maintain and replace.

These are just a few steps the state could take to save money. Feel free to post your own ideas. Also, write your state Representatives and Senators and ask them to consider areas where money can be cut besides gutting Medicaid and education.

Jonathan