WESSON – Gov. Haley Barbour on Tuesday applauded a new statebudget approved by lawmakers during a special session last week butadded that leaders must continue to try to pull the state out of a”fiscal hole” of funding problems.

“This budget almost gets us there,” Barbour said during a noonaddress at the American Legion Boys State, going on this week atCopiah-Lincoln Community College.

Under the $4.6 billion plan, Barbour said, the state isscheduled to spend less next year than this year. He mentionedreductions in Medicaid, the Department of Mental Health and otherstate agencies.

The governor said there were exceptions, such a 7 percentincrease for K-12 education that will mean $130 million more forschools. The statistic brought a round of applause from the roomfull of rising high school juniors.

Barbour said the increase was good and appropriate for whatremains the state’s top priority. However, he said the state cannotafford 12 and 15 percent increases as requested by the stateDepartment of Education in recent years.

“We have to realize that just because you are the top priority(doesn’t mean) that you can’t save some money, too,” Barboursaid.

Barbour pointed out community college funding is down 15 percentfrom six years ago, while there has been a 26 percent increase instudent enrollment, and university funding is down 9 percentdespite a 16 percent enrollment increase. K-12 spending is up 55percent in that time, Barbour said, although enrollment has notincreased.

When education makes up over 60 percent of the general fundbudget, Barbour said, the state struggles to maintain same-levelfunding for law enforcement and other services.

“Everybody’s got a role in controlling costs,” Barbour said.

The governor’s comments received good reviews from audiencemembers.

“I thought, overall, I agreed with what he said,” said ColinMiller, of Biloxi.

Miller had some concerns about the need to increase funding forcolleges and law enforcement. However, he still supported K-12education.

“If people aren’t educated, everything else won’t matter,”Miller said.

Kevin Reeves, who like Barbour is from Yazoo City, said thespending plan the governor discussed would be good.

“It’s going to be great for me and my peers,” Reeves said.

Reeves, though, questioned increasing funds for K-12 educationwhile other educational systems deal with less funds and morestudents.

“In order to gain, you have to lose something,” Reeves said.”We’ve got to start somewhere.”

While community college general fund spending is down next year,Co-Lin President Dr. Howell Garner said increased money inwork-force training and other areas will allow maintenance of levelfunding. He indicated that was good for community colleges, as wereBarbour’s comments about seeking more funding in the nextlegislative session.

“We’re very happy to hear the governor say that, and we hope theLegislature feels that way,” Garner said.

Pointing out community college funding being down 17 percentsince fiscal year 2000, Garner said Co-Lin has raised tuition $350during that time. He said another tuition hike is possible whencollege trustees meet Thursday to discuss next year’s budgetplans.

In another school money matter, Barbour used a student’squestion to discuss the future of the Mississippi School of theArts in Brookhaven and the Mississippi School for Mathematics andScience in Columbus.

“I think the day will come when (students at MSA and MSMS) willbe asked to pay tuition,” Barbour said, echoing a legislativesuggestion that has been discussed but not approved during earliersessions.

Barbour said MSA is scheduled to receive more money next yearthan it did this year. According to the budget, MSA is slated tohave about $2.2 million, up from $1.8 million this year.

MSA and MSMS are both “very good” for Mississippi, Barboursaid.

“We need centers of excellence. We need to raise ourexpectations,” Barbour said.

While the schools should be promoted, Barbour said, those whouse them should help share in the cost. He advocated asliding-scale fee system.

“The costs should be borne to the degree they can afford it,”Barbour said. “Some of the costs should be borne by families.”

In other topics, Barbour touted that Mississippi’s best days arejust ahead.

The governor mentioned a number of new businesses and a diverseeconomy that has put the state in a good position. He sounded anote of concern that southwest Mississippi has not seen the sameprogress as much of the rest of the state.

“We’re working hard to get some things done in southwestMississippi,” Barbour said.