JACKSON, Miss. -- Governor Phil Bryant released his $5.8 billion Executive Budget Recommendation this afternoon. 

Right off the top, the Governor wants two percent of that to be set-aside in the state’s Rainy Day Fund.  Then, most state agencies would take a 1.5 percent budget cut. 

That does not include education.  “We will level fund MAEP (Mississippi Adequate Education Program) and add $21 million to education priorities,” he announced at the Capitol.

The Department of Corrections would get an extra $29 million under the Governor’s plan.  “We must send a message to the lawless in the state of Mississippi, that ‘if you are going to break the law, you are going to do the time.’”

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency would also get more money to help keep you safe.  And then there’s that ballooning Medicaid budget you hear about all the time.  That agency wants $921 million.  “We’re hoping we can work with less.  We will ask the Legislature to fund Medicaid at $862.8 million.”

The total budget is about $2 million more than last year.  But the Governor says you will not have to pay any more taxes or extra fees.