Mississippi legislators seeking to divert casino road money to general fund

Legislators in Mississippi are in an extended special session addressing state appropriations that includes talk of diverting a portion of the road funds channeled to the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) from gaming to buoy the General Fund.

According to MDOT officials, Governor Haley Barbour is interested in diverting a percentage of the $54 million a year in State Gaming Tax revenues from MDOT to the General Fund. Overall, legislators are trying to wrestle with distributing $4.5 billion to state programs.

MDOT receives approximately $36 million a year to pay off the debt service on the Gaming Road Program. Officials remain confident any shift in funds will keep the $36 million for debt service intact.