[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6361938,"mediaKeyId","2169196-81a9e1fc60ed0fab4ad96905f7805a83","parentId",2169196,"title","State archives asks appropriations committee for $43 million to finish museum projects, fund staff raises and 14 new positions","audioSeconds",633,"startMs",1361000,"endMs",728000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169196-81a9e1fc60ed0fab4ad96905f7805a83&start=1361&end=728","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169196-81a9e1fc60ed0fab4ad96905f7805a83/thumbnail_1361000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6361938/Mississippi/State-archives-asks-appropriations-committee-for-43-million-to-finish-museum-projects-fund-staff-raises-and-14-new-positions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361938-7738e73b4ec8f6ede428f9a3010aca71/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162843&Signature=hKRmwmsHoiY03kqg2vGgYJN8-7sxfqAByO6fAFq-C7RRBTIlG-GzCHSZmBG-RS02Bt2~eTwGkwnQ3D30-phZ9~It0aEZDXcZ2Xm6HqBZRIzV51DI9MFLgqnD4d~13eDFYqPomJ9g7pEKdRjEFKQ9I07Txy84HHy6pzD8RBqub4I5puKRMsJaK6t-SIrhvuwweqz4Nu6DQ~CeZ3hevikg~a5tIj6xZWb5jMCfkbZgg-93NqKvDQVKRN~z1EDdhva~roWf9Bk7AGyLrReI51dNra6cLcYiaLUHu2voRdoajITWq6jy~ZXlpx97LWFZjuWky246PpmPFWxKie3HvGbmkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mississippi Legislature","date","2025-01-30T00:00:00Z","article","Representatives of the state archives and history agency told the state appropriations committee they are requesting $43,000,000 this fiscal year to complete capital projects and to implement a multi-year salary strategy for staff.

Agency leaders said the request would fund a salary-strategy rollout tied to the state personnel board’s range adjustments, 14 new positions prioritized by program need, and several capital projects. Shelby Tipton, the agency’s human resources director, described the salary approach as a priority-based, market-driven plan: “Priority 1 individuals are those who are in really high level mission critical roles, who are very successful or who have been with the agency in their current function for more than 10 years. These individuals are eligible for the highest in range adjustment, which is between 67%.”

The agency highlighted three project-level requests it called highest priority. They include:

Grand Village of the Natchez Indians — $9,000,000 to close out construction on the new museum and exhibits tied to that site; agency presenters said other funding sources may materialize but the state share is needed to complete the work and sign a construction contract before the next session.

Vicksburg Military Park visitor center — $20,000,000 to continue architecture, exhibit design and move toward signing a construction contract; agency representatives said the total project cost was projected at $120,000,000 and that the agency is pursuing federal funds and private fundraising in parallel.

Community Heritage Preservation Grant (CHPG) program — the agency requested $10,000,000 to restore funding that previously was set at $5,000,000 a year; agency staff said legislation has been introduced to move administration of the CHPG funds so the money can flow directly to the archives rather than routing through the Department of Finance and Administration.

Agency staff also asked for $2,000,000 to complete demolition and site work for Crigler Park (the initial phase tied to the Welty Library demolition) and described a multi-year need at Jefferson College tied to a $1,000,000 NEH matching grant that requires a $800,000 annual match over five years (the agency said this is year two and asked for $1,600,000 this year to remain on track).

On personnel, the agency said most staff fall in a priority-2 band that would receive 3–5% adjustments, and the presentation noted that additional market-based adjustments for priority-1 and other employees are part of the package. The agency requested 14 new positions, the highest‑priority of which are a project manager for the preservation trades field school at Historic Jefferson College, an additional fundraising position to expand private solicitation capacity (increasing the fundraising team from two to three), and four museum maintenance positions to replace contractor services with in-house staff.

Speakers stressed private fundraising and leveraged federal dollars already committed to projects. Agency leaders said Friends groups and the city and county are expected to contribute; the Friends of the Vicksburg Military Campaign or Park have committed to at least $30,000,000 in private fundraising over time, the agency said, and the state has provided prior appropriations and a $4,000,000 federal earmark pending final budget action.

Committee members asked about vacancy rates, hiring timelines and the agency’s plan to use positions if funded. Agency staff said the agency currently reports 13 vacancies with 9 actively recruiting and two true unfilled roles. They said priority hires could be posted and filled quickly once authority is granted but conceded some hiring steps would require standard HR processing. The agency also said it had raised more than $2.3 million in private gifts, grants and memberships this year and that they try to minimize the requested state match by leveraging that revenue.

The hearing included discussion of a change to CHPG administration: Tommy Goodwin, identified by agency presenters as a deputy, said legislation in both houses would allow CHPG money to flow directly to archives instead of routing through DFA, which agency staff described as an efficiency and administrative improvement.

The presentation closed with agency leaders thanking the committee and noting they would return for further budget work and appropriation deliberations.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Appropriations - Room 210; 30 January, 2025: 8:15 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives of the state archives and history agency told the state appropriations committee they are requesting $43,000,000 this fiscal year to complete capital projects and to implement a multi-year salary strategy for staff.","taxTitle","Appropriations, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Mississippi","taxId",29323,"location","Mississippi","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6361933,"Agriculture commissioner warns of shrinking federal funds, requests 7% pay plan and funding for fairgrounds repairs",2734,1638000,4372000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169196-81a9e1fc60ed0fab4ad96905f7805a83&start=1638&end=4372","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169196-81a9e1fc60ed0fab4ad96905f7805a83/thumbnail_1638000.jpg","/articles/6361933/Mississippi/Agriculture-commissioner-warns-of-shrinking-federal-funds-requests-7-pay-plan-and-funding-for-fairgrounds-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361933-283e073d57df4d96300fbeb46d8eb9cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162843&Signature=Ewi33Cevpq1CZFIFSwTcO0Omd6ETRh93O3x~z1xtntky-5g9MP7s-JFCPM4T52vtZdk8e0tQi7nyqqEsnn9~kcseQTZIjojNSTHoXG5FDGRdPkfkV-xjYR9RAzh-WBC9WZGst6RMymJVJywXxAt4Dt4pOUWlsrGPZ0nJcKjRknPhAgDZMY823uRGMzKlJgDK41jy~uOUpkNC5npdnsr9-Leb-KfFs4UxMFXmQ~bsLiP68J78vYVGesmirRNYew~fxWyLukL5UKdjagQcQL5j0Wh7LLwG2i6tX6GpvPTY8U-DyVlJ-0EWqweVlh9C8CUER7yZUKIZs5dQpCuB0a1C~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce told the appropriations committee federal funding for state agriculture programs has fallen in recent years and asked the legislature for a package of pay, equipment and maintenance funding to preserve regulatory services and facility operations.

The commissioner said USDA federal funding “has been drying up” for the past two years and described the department as a mostly special‑fund agency that uses state appropriations principally to support salaries and regulatory work. He said roughly 65% of the department’s workforce is eligible for retirement and that the most urgent need is to raise inspector-level pay to retain mid-career regulatory staff.

As a primary personnel request, the department asked for a 7% across-the-board adjustment tied to the SCC 2 compensation authority (the agency referred to it in testimony as “SCC 2”), with particular emphasis on inspector ranks and other field staff. The commissioner said the current starting pay for an inspector is $28,542 a year and outlined pay tables for law-enforcement‑type positions at the agency: current starting pay for one cited law enforcement series is $43,509.31, and the department requested a new starting figure of $46,005.54 for that series.

Committee members questioned the department’s vacancy and recruiting plans; the agency said it currently lists 13 vacancies, nine actively recruiting, and noted it is already filling many positions quickly when authority is provided. The department also requested 2 new meat inspectors to cover expanding meat-processing facilities (work it said is mandated under federal rules), plus other new positions spread across regulatory and program areas.

The commissioner asked the committee to restore COVID-era reduced travel budgets to pre‑COVID levels to allow staff to attend required federal accreditation and regulatory conferences. The updated travel request presented to the committee was substantially smaller than the agency’s original submission, and staff agreed to provide details on which conferences are mandatory versus discretionary.

The department’s operating and capital requests included IT and lab equipment for a metrology lab (on Alcorn State University campus), radios, laptops, hog traps for the successful feral‑hog program, and $250,000 earmarked as a contingency line for unforeseen fairgrounds repairs. The commissioner described repeated, unpredictable infrastructure failures at the state fairgrounds — a nearly 100-year-old complex — and urged funding for roof repairs and other capital fixes, saying routine maintenance needs currently exceed the fairgrounds’ rental revenue.

Fairgrounds director Michael Laster said rental and event revenue now covers operational costs and that two large events (the state fair and the Dixie National) pay a large share of annual receipts, but he and the commissioner said the site cannot absorb major capital repair bills without state support. The department reported completion of a beta-phase high-speed Wi‑Fi installation at the fairgrounds and that vehicles requested in a prior session were located and acquired.

Committee members asked for a clearer prioritization by fund type and for a profit-and-loss breakdown for the fairgrounds and the ag museum so the committee can distinguish recurring operating needs from one‑time capital costs.

The hearing included additional technical questions from senators and committee members about regulatory staffing levels for peanut inspections, relationships with private firms (Birdsong was discussed as reimbursing overtime), and use of the Attorney General’s Office for legal support. The department said it is using a mix of in-house counsel and contracted attorneys for regulatory work and asked for one additional regulatory attorney position for the Bureau of Plant Industry.","The Department of Agriculture and Commerce told the appropriations committee federal support has declined, prompting a request for a 7% SEC2-based pay increase for inspectors and other staff, restoration of travel budgets, equipment and capital repairs at the state fairgrounds and ag museum.","actionData","errors"]

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State archives asks appropriations committee for $43 million to finish museum projects, fund staff raises and 14 new positions

Agriculture commissioner warns of shrinking federal funds, requests 7% pay plan and funding for fairgrounds repairs