JACKSON - These are times for backslapping and budget slicing at the Mississippi Development Authority.
Bob Rohrlack, who runs the state's economic development agency, and his boss, Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, were all smiles last week as they announced Mississippi's designation by a top trade publication as one of the nation's best for attracting industry.
The two stood in the Capitol rotunda, touting the accomplishments of the MDA and Musgrove's two-year-old economic development initiative.
At the same time, across the street in the Woolfolk State Office Building, some MDA managers and directors were pondering a more pressing matter: How can the agency continue to operate its economic, community and tourism development programs with ever-dwindling budgets?
"We're already pretty lean," said MDA spokeswoman Sherry Vance.
Yet, like every other state agency, Rohrlack and his staff of 307 are about to get leaner.
MDA is facing a budget reduction in fiscal 2003, which starts July 1, marking the third consecutive year of tighter money. Next year's cut would be the most drastic in recent years if the Joint Legislative Budget Committee's recommendation becomes reality.
MDA officials say the committee has proposed an overall operating budget of $18.9 million for fiscal 2003, a 28 percent decline from the current fiscal year and 37 percent less than the agency's $30.2 million budget in 2000.
MDA leaders have yet to determine what services or programs would be diminished or even eliminated, but Vance said such a sharp reduction would be "crippling."
Every division - administration, community services, energy, national/international development, minority business, existing business and industry, tourism and others - would take a hit, Vance said.
"For months we've been asking our division directors to analyze their programs and begin the thought process of how they would cut their budgets, either through services, new hires, travel - all the many things involved," she said.
"Once we see the final number, we'll all come together with the executive director and he'll make the decisions as to which programs we can continue to administer, market and fund and which we simply cannot."
Of course, MDA officials have not stopped lobbying for a less severe cut. They've been meeting with key lawmakers since September and appear to have an important ally in Rep. Charlie Capps, D-Cleveland, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
"I recognize there's a real problem there," the legislator said last week. "I'm going to make a strong effort to find what we call 'bridge money,' which would bridge them from one year to the next to keep them going."
Copyright 2002, Associated Press. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
