Brown, Burton say university mergers a no-go

Officials: Merging schools won't fly | clarionledger.com | The Clarion-Ledger: "Two influential lawmakers say the most controversial parts of Gov. Haley Barbour's budget recommendations are not likely to make it through the upcoming legislative session. 'Some of the things just don't work,' Rep. Cecil Brown, D-Jackson, said in a meeting with Sen. Terry Burton, R-Newton, at The Clarion-Ledger's editorial board.  Responding to Mississippi's continued decline in revenues, Barbour has recommended merging the state's eight public universities into five, consolidating public school districts, closing mental health facilities and looking for savings in other areas."

what's next

The Joint Legislative Budget Committee is to release its recommendations for the state's fiscal 2011 budget by Dec. 15.

The 2010 legislative session is scheduled to run from Jan. 5 to April 3.

Lawmakers have until June 30 to craft a budget that will go into effect July 1.