Recent Updates
National Crisis Hits Home: Addressing Mississippi's Mortgage Foreclosures
A newly released report from the Mississippi Economic Policy Center (MEPC) shows that Mississippi has the eighth highest foreclosure rate and the highest percentage of borrowers with past due home loan payments in the country. The high rate of delinquency coupled with a very high rate of subprime, or high cost, lending suggests that Mississippi is likely to experience increasing rates of foreclosures in the months to come. "National Crisis Hits Home" examines the issue and offers policy recommendations to address mortgage foreclosures in Mississippi. Click here for a copy of the report.
Stabilizing Jobs: Policy Options to Strengthen Mississippi's Child Care System
An estimated 80,000 children below the age of 13 live in low-income working families and do not receive child care assistance. The absence of child care can compromise work efforts for families and employee retention for businesses. By working together across agencies and sectors Mississippi will build a system that supports working families and helps employers maintain a stable workforce that strengthens their bottom line. Click here for a copy of the report.
A State Earned Income Tax Credit: Strengthening Mississippi's Working Families
With the recent announcement of the Mississippi Tax Study Commission, Mississippians have been given the opportunity to strengthen the tax code by making it less regressive. Through the enactment of a state Earned Income Tax Credit, Mississippi would achieve the goal of a less regressive tax structure resulting in a net tax cut that boosts local economies, benefits every legislative district in the state and builds systems that support the state’s working families with little administrative burden. For a full report on how the state credit would benefit working Mississippians click here.
Federal Dollars and Regressive State Taxes Fund Most of Mississippi's Annual Budget
A newly released report from the Mississippi Economic Policy Center (MEPC) notes that nearly half (48%) of the $17.4 billion in appropriations for fiscal year 2008 come from federal sources. Funding for the other half (52%) is largely generated from a regressive system of state taxes. The report, provides an overview of Mississippi's budget process and spending decisions. It also examines the ways in which the state generates revenue to pay for services and evaluates Mississippi's tax structure. Click here to view a copy of the report.