Mississippi law funds community colleges and targeted programs

The law provides $226,287,891 from the General Fund and $92,755,520 from special funds for college operations and support. The funds support Mississippi's public community and junior colleges. The Mississippi Community College Board distributes support funds through the college funding formula. The appropriations cover the fiscal year from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

The law sets aside money for job training, career and technical programs, education technology, adult education, and sign language interpreter training. These allocations support public community and junior colleges and programs run with the Mississippi Community College Board. The $3 million dropout recovery allocation supports adults pursuing high school equivalencies, skills training, and work credentials; half is divided equally, and half is allocated based on prior-year enrollment. Colleges must report Fiscal Year 2026 dropout recovery enrollment to the Legislature and Legislative Budget Office by August 1, 2027.

The law provides funds for employee life and health insurance, possible professor pay increases, and college construction or repair projects. Insurance and possible pay increases cover community and junior college employees; construction and repair funds are allocated to the listed colleges. Insurance funds may be used only for the State and School Employees' Life and Health Insurance Plan; unspent insurance funds carry forward for the same purpose. The equivalent of a $2,000 raise for professors and adjunct professors is at each college president's discretion. The construction and repair allocation covers the fiscal year from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.