Mississippi Today

State revenue continues slide, but financial position remains strong

Published

11 months ago

June 11, 2024

While the state is still in a strong financial position, the downward trend in government revenue continued for May, according to a Legislative Budget Committee report.

Through May, the 11^th month of the fiscal year, the state has collected $6.9 billion in revenue or $17.9 million (-0.26%) less than what was collected during the same period the previous fiscal year. It is rare for the state to collect less revenue than was collected in the previous year.

The collections would be much worse if not for a substantial spike in interest earnings due primarily to increased interest rates. Through May the state has collected $62 million or 96.7% more in interest earnings than it did during the same period last year.

The biggest reason for the drop in revenue is that the state is collecting $155.7 million or 7.2% less in personal income taxes than were collected during the same period last year. The slowdown in state income taxes is due largely to the $525 million cut in the personal income tax passed in the 2022 legislative session and that will be fully phased in by 2026.

Many of the supporters of the 2022 tax cut said the revenue lost would be offset by an increase in the sale tax on retail items. They reasoned an economic boon from reducing the income tax would generate more consumer spending that would result in increased sales tax collections. But increased sales tax collections have not made up for the loss of income taxes.

While personal income tax collections are down nearly $156 million million for the year, sales tax collections are up $78.2 million or 3.1% and use tax collections (the 7% sales tax on items purchased out of state primarily through the internet) are up $14.4 million or 4%.

Of the revenue collections, House Speaker Jason White, R-West, said, “We are watching. I would not say we are concerned.”

White pointed out that in recent years the Legislature has collected significantly more revenue than it has budgeted. Because of conservative spending, the decline in revenue has not negatively impacted that state budget, though, many would argue that various needs have gone unmet because of the decision by politicians not to spend additional, available revenue.

White is hoping to pass during the upcoming session another major tax cut even as two past tax cuts are still being phased in. He wants to cut the 7% tax on groceries in half and to phase out the personal income tax, which still accounts for nearly one-third of total state revenue. The cuts would presumably be offset in part by increases in sales taxes on retail items other than groceries.

White said as long as the state is colleting “600 million or $700 million” more than is being appropriated, many Republicans will want to enact additional tax cuts.

The state has not collected less revenue than it did the previous year since fiscal year 2020 during the pandemic. Soon after that state revenue exploded thanks in part to unprecedented money from the federal government provided as part of COVID-19 relief efforts. Additionally, inflation has grown state revenues. Rising costs caused by inflation increase the amount of money the state received in sales taxes.

Other times the state collected less than the previous year include:

In fiscal year 2017 (presumably because of multiple tax cuts enacted over a period of years).
In 2009 and 2010 during the Great Recession.
In the early 2000s.

These prior slowdowns in revenue resulted in major budget cuts. But because collections have been so strong in recent years before the current slowdown began, budget cuts have not been needed thus far.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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Mississippi Today

UMMC holds free cancer screenings

Published

24 hours ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Editor

mississippitoday.org – @EricJShelton – 2025-04-30 12:00:00

by Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today
April 30, 2025

Resident physician Claire Babin, right, performs an oral cancer screening on Ella Holmes during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Physicians prepare for oral, head and neck cancer screenings during a free screening event at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Resident physician Brooks Lampkin, center, screens Diane Carter for oral cancer as medical students Mason Nodurft, left, and Eva Kiparizoska observe during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Educational giveaways advocating against smoking are available during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Sharon Terry, senior tobacco treatment specialist, waits for patients during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Skylar Robinson, medical office assistant, left, and Kiandria Bruce, registered nurse, review materials at the patient sign-in table during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Head and neck cancer literature is available during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Dr. Alex Brooks and registered nurse Angela Noble talk during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Nina Brown, clinical manager, helps Ned Bostic with paperwork during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Resident physician Brooks Lampkin performs an oral cancer screening on Ned Bostic at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Ned Bostic receives a neck cancer screening during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
Resident physician Brooks Lampkin, center, and medical student Hanna Watson examine Ned Bostic during a free oral, head and neck cancer screening at the Jackson Medical Mall on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery hosted a free oral, head, and neck cancer screening Wednesday at the Jackson Medical Mall as part of Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week.

The event featured quick, noninvasive screenings aimed at catching cancer early — when treatment is most effective. Onyx Care provided free HPV vaccinations, while the ACT Center for Tobacco Treatment, Education, and Research offered resources on smoking cessation and free services.

“These screenings take about 10 minutes and can save lives,” said Dr. Gina Jefferson, head and neck surgical oncologist at UMMC. “The earlier a cancer is diagnosed, the better chance we have of curing it.”

Tobacco and alcohol use remain major risk factors for these cancers. However, physicians say an increasing number of cases are linked to HPV, especially among younger adults with no history of smoking or drinking. Dentists are often the first to spot early signs, which can include persistent sores, lumps in the neck, or difficulty swallowing.

Oral, head and neck cancers are among the most common globally. When found early, survival rates can exceed 80 percent.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post UMMC holds free cancer screenings appeared first on mississippitoday.org

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article presents factual information about a free cancer screening event without showing a clear ideological stance. It primarily focuses on the health benefits of early cancer detection and the availability of free resources, such as HPV vaccinations and smoking cessation support. The language used is neutral and the content is centered around public health education rather than promoting a political viewpoint. The inclusion of factual statistics, such as survival rates and risk factors, adds to its informative and objective tone. There are no signs of bias or advocacy for a particular political agenda, making this a centrist piece.

Crooked Letter Sports Podcast

Podcast: What next for Mississippi State baseball?

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Editor

mississippitoday.org – @rick_cleveland – 2025-04-30 10:46:00

by Rick Cleveland and Tyler Cleveland, Mississippi Today
April 30, 2025

Mississippi State didn’t even wait until the end of the season to fire Chris Lemonis, who brought the national championship to Starkville not quite four years ago. Where do the Bulldogs go from here. Robbie Faulk who covers the Bulldogs more closely than anyone else joins the podcast to discuss the situation.

Stream all episodes here.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post Podcast: What next for Mississippi State baseball? appeared first on mississippitoday.org

Mississippi Today

Mobile sports betting users: We want to hear from you

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Editor

mississippitoday.org – @MSTODAYnews – 2025-04-30 10:21:00

by Mississippi Today, Mississippi Today
April 30, 2025

Mississippi Today is looking to speak with current and former mobile sports betting users. We’d like to speak with people who spend considerable amounts of time and money betting on sports through online gambling sites.

We’re interested in hearing the experience of people who have suffered from gambling addiction or problems, or friends and family members of people who have. We also would like to talk with people who believe legalizing mobile sports betting would benefit Mississippi and its residents.

We want to hear from you. Please take the survey below or contact Political Reporter Michael Goldberg by email at mgoldberg@mississippitoday.org

TAKE THE SURVEY:

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This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post Mobile sports betting users: We want to hear from you appeared first on mississippitoday.org

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

This article from Mississippi Today appears to present a neutral stance, focusing on gathering input from various groups of mobile sports betting users, including those who may have experienced addiction issues. The content does not advocate for or against the legalization of mobile sports betting but instead seeks to gather diverse perspectives, including those of individuals who may support or oppose it. The language used is objective and does not suggest a particular ideological perspective, allowing for a balanced exploration of the issue at hand.