Barbour to release state budget proposal today

JACKSON — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour today is releasing his state spending plan for the coming budget year.

The Republican leaves office when his second term ends Jan. 10, nearly six months before fiscal 2013 begins on July 1.

He will make recommendations that new lawmakers and incoming Republican Gov. Phil Bryant can use as they decide how to spend the state’s money.

Barbour is expected to urge officials to be cautious and to leave several million dollars in reserve, as he has in years past.

The Joint Legislative Budget Committee released its recommendations this past week, with an overall state spending reduction of 2.3 percent. A committee document shows most reductions would be between 1 percent and 15 percent.