JACKSON - Mississippi Development Authority chief Bob Rohrlack is hoping the Legislature will invest more in economic development than what's now being proposed by lawmakers.
Still, what's on the table isn't terrible, he said.
The funding bill for the economic development agency is among dozens pending in the final days of the Legislature. Negotiators from the Senate and House appropriations committees are working on a compromise state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Sen. Jack Gordon, D-Okolona, the Senate committee chairman, said MDA is competing for the same dollars as every other agency. Gordon said lawmakers recognize the work the agency has done and its needs.
Whatever budget is finally agreed to by Saturday night's deadline will have to be passed in both houses.
Rohrlack, who took over MDA in 2001, said Tuesday that the agency hoped for about $24 million in state funding. Bills passed by the House and Senate appropriated about $18.6 million. Rohrlack is hoping some of the money will be restored.
"We're working hard to convince them this is not a time to be cutting back on the activities for economic development and reminding them we're the agency that brings money back to them," he said.
Rohrlack said lawmakers have supported expansions at Nissan in Madison County, Howard Industries in Laurel and Northrop Grumman Ingalls in Pascagoula and those will bring economic benefits.
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