The Mississippi Democratic Party continued its series of updates on the budget legacy of Appropriations Committee Chairman Alan Nunnelee. Nunnelee recently referred to his work on this year’s state budget as “one of the legacies I’ll leave.” [Clarion Ledger, 4/21/10]

THE LEGACY OF ALAN NUNNELEE, REPORT #4

The Lafayette County School District continued the process of letting employees go at the beginning of this week, citing a shrinking budget. This brings the total count to 23 employees who have lost their jobs since last Thursday. Seventeen others are retiring, and many will not be replaced.

At Lafayette Elementary School, seven employees were terminated. At Lafayette Upper Elementary, six employees, the activity teachers including the library assistant, computer teacher, music and art were terminated. At Lafayette Middle School, four employees including an assistant coach, library and art teacher, were terminated. Lafayette High School had six employees let go, according to Superintendent Mike Foster. [Oxford Eagle,5/14/10]

“The Nunnelee budget has devastating effects on our public education system and our ability to prepare our kids to compete for good, high-paying jobs,” said Mississippi Democratic Party Executive Director Sam Hall. “Nunnelee wants to run on his record and his legacy but Mississippi families are learning how dreadful a record it is. Teachers, law enforcement officers, school students, even librarians – no one is safe from Alan Nunnelee’s knife. The only job he’s looking out for is his own.”

Schools across North Mississippi will be forced to make similar cuts as they approach the new budget year. [Monroe County Journal, 5/12/10]

The Mississippi Democratic Party began exploring the implications of Alan Nunnelee’s legacy in this state budget by raising concern over his “pay cut for thousands of teachers, law enforcement officers and other state and local employees” and continued raising concern about budget cuts that directly affect children. [Mississippi Democratic Party, 5/10/10; 5/12/10]

For more information, please contact Sam Hall at (601) 969-2913 or via email to sam@mississippidemocrats.org.