Lt. Gov. Reeves says next budget year will be the worst - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

He already put his agenda before lawmakers and now the state's second in command, Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves is putting it in front of business and community leaders from across the state.  

"I'm serious about getting control of spending and serious about our renewed focus on efficiency," Reeves said.

Reeves is pushing government transparency, a charter school system and says the state's top priority will continue to be jobs which starts with a good foundation.  

"Government does not create jobs," Reeves said. "Government simply creates an environment which encourages the private sector to invest capital and create jobs."

To do that, Reeves says it starts with higher education attainment, which is where funding needs to be placed.  

"I think that we can over a three to four year period, get to full funding of the adequate education program, but it's going to take time," Reeves said.

Before handing out money for services though, Reeves, the former state treasurer, says Mississippi needs to first know how much money it has.  

Although a good measure, Reeves says revenue estimates will always be wrong and Mississippi's budget problems are far from over.

"No matter what revenues do over the next four months or what we expect them to do over the next fiscal year, next fiscal year's budget is going to be the most difficult budget the legislature has ever had to deal with," Reeves said.

With less than a month as lieutenant governor, long time Representative George Flaggs (D-Vicksburg) says Reeves is making sure his agenda works financially.  

"I think it's approachable," Rep. Flaggs said. "I think what he's doing is being cautious and optimistic on decisions he makes which is good."

In the meantime, Reeves says there are ways the state can save money and when it comes to additional revenues one thing is for certain and it's not one of his talking points.  

"I'm against raising taxes on anybody so why would I spend time talking about anything that's not going to happen," Reeves said.

This fiscal year, the state is expected to spend $450 million on principal and interest from debt services which Reeves says needs to be put under better control, meaning more money spent elsewhere.

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