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MEC urging budget priorities |
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Wednesday, 11 November 2009 |
 Paul Sims/SDN Blake Wilson, the president and CEO of the Mississippi Economic Council, talks to the audience in Columbus Tuesday. Wilson’s appearance was the second stop on a 12-city tour around Mississippi as officials with the MEC – the state’s Chamber of Commerce – outline what they hope are budgetary priorities in the upcoming legislative session. By PAUL SIMS
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COLUMBUS — Acknowledging tough economic times, officials with the state’s Chamber of Commerce hope to encourage focus on three budgetary priorities — education at all levels, economic development and transportation, an official said.
Blake Wilson, president and CEO of the Mississippi Economic Council, spoke in Columbus Tuesday. After the meeting, he clarified the top three priorities the organization hopes lawmakers will focus on during the upcoming legislative session.
He guided a multi-media presentation which included video messages from Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant and several others.
One slide in the presentation included a list of steps the organization hopes will put the state in a position of greatest opportunity. These are:
• Consolidating services.
• Developing a businesslike budgeting approach.
• Creating incentives which are triggered as state revenues improve.
• Breaking norms.
Bryant talked about work to develop a system of performance-based budgeting in Mississippi.
He also mentioned his office’s participation in the Lieutenant Governors’ Challenge, an effort involving the lieutenant governors of 15 states with an aim toward improving cardiovascular health.
The challenge includes a 12-week program in which those who take part generate points through such activities as housework or walking, according to promotional material on the effort.
Percy Watson, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said from a video presentation that “unprecedented challenges” face lawmakers as they prepare for the 2010 legislative session.
Wilson mentioned a proposed elimination of the state’s inventory tax.
After the meeting, Wilson clarified that but then use increased revenues when the economy rebounds to replace the tax, which goes to help fund counties and cities.
Laurie Smith, the executive director of Mississippi Building Blocks, talked via video about the program, which aims to improve school readiness in children in participating day care centers.
The program is in a three-year pilot stage with an aim toward scaling up the program throughout the state.
Promotional material on the program says officials hope the long-term result when the project goes statewide will be improved job readiness, higher salaries, less involvement with the criminal justice system and reduced participation in public assistance.
“This is clearly a work force development” issue, Smith said.
Regarding the transportation issue, statistics MEC provided show 40 percent of Mississippi’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition and 17 percent of its bridges — 20 feet or longer — have received a structurally deficient rating.
Gray Swoope, the executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority, said by video that officials are focusing on existing businesses and encouraging more innovative approaches, citing the 30,000 visitors to the B.B. King Museum in Indianola.
He also said Mississippi is part of a four-state aerospace alliance. A recent Associated Press report on the alliance says the other participating states are Alabama, Florida and Louisiana.
The AP says the alliance – announced last month – would allow business, economic development, government and civic leaders to combine resources, funds and manpower for lobbying efforts, according to organizers.
Its first priority is to help secure the KC-45 aerial tanker program for the region. If the KC-45 aircraft is selected, the tankers will be assembled in Mobile, bringing 48,000 jobs to the county and thousands of additional jobs to the region.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 16 November 2009 )
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