The recent state budget crisis has meant real cuts for state education. Sometimes state budget numbers are hard to navigate with the different funding sources (general funds, special funds and federal funds) and different budget categories. However, for education funding in Mississippi over the last four years, the conclusion is simple. Any way you look at it, whether state general funds or total appropriations, whether just MAEP or total K-12 education, education appropriations have decreased.
The figure below shows education funding and the total budget in general funds and total appropriations from FY 2008 and FY 2012.
Mississippi Education Funding Comparison FY 2008 and FY 2012
Appropriations for the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) which funds our K-12 schools have decreased in total by about 8% from FY 2008 to FY 2012.
Total public education funding includes MAEP, the Department of Education, the Educational Television Authority, and the Library Commission. Considering other funding sources (federal funds and other special funds), total appropriations has decreased over $80 million, or 3%.
General fund appropriations for MAEP and total Public Education have also been reduced by about 10%. This is a higher percentage cut than the total general fund budget over the same time period.
These cuts have come at a time when a quality education system is even more vital to our state’s economy as the state struggles to recover from the recent recession. New revenue is necessary to restore the state’s gains in education and prepare the state’s future workforce for a new economy.
Author: Sara Miller, Senior Policy Analyst
Source: FY 2008 State of Mississippi Budget, Budget Summary 2011 Legislative Session
