Work has officially begun on Mississippi's 6-billion dollar state budget. Mississippi lawmakers are looking at a new way of funding some state agencies.
For the first time, state lawmakers a using a new system to measure how well some state agencies are doing their job called performance based budgeting.
Senator Terry Burton of Newton says the idea is to get a better handle on what the state is spending its money on.
"How many programs do you have? What's the cost? And what benefit is that to the citizens of Mississippi? Whatever that program may be," Burton said.
The Department of Corrections is already using the system, but the Departments of Health Education and Medicaid are being added this year.
As of December, revenues are up 88-million dollars over the last estimate.
House Appropriation Chairman Herb Frierson of Poplarville says that's added to 112-million in a separate account that is ready to be spent.
"I feel like we can address some needs that have lingered since 2009 and the recession. Seriously address them," Frierson said.
However, he also warned not to get too excited because the Medicaid rolls have grown by 75-thousand people and that is making the program more expensive than previously thought.
