Miss. Lawmakers to Focus on Balancing Budget - SHELIA BYRD, Associated Press

Republican Gov. Haley Barbour and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee have made recommendations on how to cut costs, and legislators will consider those plans as they write a budget. Some 3,650 vacant government positions won't be filled under the legislative plan, which also calls for reducing most state agencies' budgets by about 10 percent. Stringer said legislators also are eyeing fee increases on car titles, agricultural licenses and other items. He said Mississippi residents also will feel the budget cuts when tuition increases at universities, some college courses are eliminated and local tax hikes are sought to help pay for public school operations. "When state funds are reduced, they have to turn to ad valorem taxes," Stringer said.