The current fiscal year, FY 2010, has four months remaining before it ends on June 30, and state agencies are dealing with reductions by Gov. Barbour. But much of the work last week was on FY 2011, beginning July 1, as the Senate Appropriations Committee considered and approved new state agency budgets. We will spend almost $6 billion of state funds on FY 2011, with the federal government and other sources paying the rest of the tab over $10 billion. The House and Senate will be reviewing the opposite’s work over the next few weeks.

Deadlines to finalize legislative work in several areas will be drawing tighter as the 90-day session moves past the midway mark. This week (Feb. 22-26) is the actual deadline to pass or reject the FY 2011 appropriation and revenue bills on the House floor. Then, on March 2, we face a deadline to pass or reject general bills that originated in the Senate. By then, the session will have only month to go before completion. Sine die adjournment is planned for Saturday, April 3.

The appropriation and revenue bills we took up last week are subject to change before the session ends, especially in tight economic times when state tax revenue collections are at their lowest ebb in many years. No better example of change is the current FY 2010 budget, which has already undergone four reductions by Gov. Barbour, with K-12 public education taking a massive hit of about $195 million which has left school district officials statewide scrambling to meet their obligations.

An effort to ease some of the burden these cuts have placed on school districts created an interesting dynamic at the Capitol last week. There was a vote to concur with the House on SB 2688 and restore $79 million in cuts to the 2010 budget that the governor had made earlier. The bill passed in the House with an overwhelming bipartisan vote.  Though Governor Barbour was opposed to the deal and worked hard to have the Senate send the bill to conference where he could exercise more control, the Senate approved the $79 million restoration with 4 Republicans voting with 22 Democrats for a 26-22 margin. The bill will restore $51 million to education, $8 million to health care $6 million to public safety and $2 million to veterans programs.  Despite the compromise nature of the proposal and the fact that it has bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, the governor says he intends to veto the bill.  If he does exercise his veto power, the bill will return to the Senate for an override vote where the governor will need only 18 Senators to vote with him to sustain his veto.  Senators who voted against the compromise are hearing from educators back home and everyone is gearing up for the veto challenge to come sometime this week. 

The Senate also passed Senate Bill 2444 last week.  It authorizes a 50-percent tax credit for energy efficient wind or solar energy systems costing up to $25,000 when installed at  homes or businesses.  There are many smaller tax credits available under the bill designed to encourage energy conservation and stimulate a green economy.  This was a bill that I had introduced for 3 years and it looks like it may actually make it to the governor this year.

I have been very busy with commendatory resolutions this session as local schools have enjoyed great athletic success.  So far, I have requested resolutions honoring The SSC Rockachaws State Championship Football Team and State Championship Boys Soccer Team, the OLA State Championship Girls Cross Country Team, State Championship Girls Volleyball Team and State Championship Girls Soccer Team.  Our community should be very proud of these accomplishments.  With both Bay High and SSC in the boys basketball playoffs, there may be even more to come! 

I continue to be very proud to serve as your state senator.  If I can ever be of assistance to you do not hesitate to call me at 228.270.0001 or email me at dbaria@senate.ms.gov.