NATCHEZ — The fever may have broken, but Mississippi isn’t out of the woods just yet.

Legislators go back to work Tuesday, and those representing Adams County expect the new session will be dominated by the same thing that troubled them last year — the budget.

“This could easily be one of the most historical and dynamic sessions many of us have ever been involved in,” said Rep. Sam Mims, a Republican from McComb.

The history-making dynamics Mims is referencing are built on what he and other legislators view as a crossroads of sorts.

Experts say the recession is over and state revenues are a bit higher than they were a year ago, Mims said. But money isn’t exactly growing on trees, and how legislators spend money today will determine the state’s success tomorrow, area legislators said.

Sen. Bob Dearing, a Democrat from Natchez, said he’s hopeful the state will have more money to spend in the coming year.

“We’ve got to get more money to mental health, corrections, community colleges and senior colleges,” he said.

“I think it’s going to take a while to get back to the 2008 level (of revenue), but we need to as soon as possible.”

Sen. Kelvin Butler, a Democrat from Magnolia, said he’s going into the new session optimistically.

“Folks are going out and buying again,” Butler said. “People are feeling more confident in the economy. Hopefully we have weathered the storm.”

Butler wants to see more money spent on mental health and education, and hopes that spending can start, at least in small part, this year, he said.

But that attitude is one Mims said he thinks the state needs to avoid.

“Just like families and small businesses across Mississippi and especially in Southwest Mississippi have been making very difficult choices and doing everything they can to keep the lights on and the doors open, I think they expect government to do the same.

“We have to continue to cut spending.”

Mims also hopes the worst of the recession is behind the state, but thinks careful spending can protect against another blow.

“I think there are going to be some very tough choices. We are going to have to tell our constituents ‘no,’” Mims said. “There may be a program or project that truly benefits Mississippi that we simply don’t have the resources to fund. I believe the constituents expect that.”

Budget aside, Dearing and Butler said they will continue to fight for two issues near and dear to their heart.

Dearing will re-introduce a bill to make cruelty to animals a felony in the state. The bill has been introduced every year for approximately five years, but has never passed.

Butler plans to re-introduce a bill that died in the last session banning texting while driving.