Area legislators heard firsthand Thursday what state funding cuts have done to the Natchez-Adams School District this year.

Superintendent Anthony Morris told four of the region’s six legislators and a small crowd of local leaders and citizens at the Chamber of Commerce legislative breakfast about things the district had to cut to make it by financially.

Because the state legislature failed to fund an average 8 percent teacher pay raise, an assistant pay raise and insurance costs and because Adams County lost tax dollars as a result of major industry closings, the school board raised county taxes by 13.39 percent.

Before raising taxes the district cut 50 employees, about half of which were certified teachers, eliminated three central office positions and scrounged to use federal money in all possible areas, Morris said.

Morris said the district has also had to absorb rising costs in technology, transportation, liability insurance, fringe benefits, salaries, utilities, supplies and textbooks.

The budget cuts resulted in the reduction of force, the elimination of some programs, larger class sizes, the tax increase, reduction in classroom spending money and a reduction in textbook funds, Morris said.

The district now has to work to communicate the financial crisis and educate the public on the impact of the cuts, he said.

Prior to this year’s cuts Morris said the district was making progress in student achievement, closing educational gaps and improving graduation rates.

&uot;If the funding stays as it is we probably will lose some ground in those three areas,&uot; he said.

Morris stressed that the district and the state could take the easy way out and teach for the middle of the road student, but would in turn leave other children without an adequate education.

&uot;It’s an awesome responsibility for us, and awesome task for us as educators and citizens,&uot; he said. &uot;To make sure we provide the best education to our students.&uot;

Rep. Robert Johnson, who was elected to the District 94 seat in July, after the education budget passed, said he was a supporter of the Adequate Education Act and wanted to see education fully funded, but knew that financial situations sometimes put the burden back on the citizens.

&uot;I’m a business person and I’ve had to come to learn that in order to make money I have to spend money,&uot; Johnson said. &uot;You cannot expect to keep up with the rest of the country if you won’t invest in your community.

&uot;It’s going to take more investment from us individually as much as you don’t like it,&uot; he said.

&uot;Accept the fact that if you don’t want any un-funded local mandates you have to say to the legislature, it’s OK (to tax.)&uot;

Johnson also stressed the importance of building a good education system in order to bring jobs and industry to the area instead of investing all efforts into bringing jobs.

Sen. Bob Dearing also agreed that the state may have to look at other means of tax revenue, including cigarette taxes, higher sales tax on non-food items and possibly increased income taxes.

Johnson, Dearing and Reps. Sam Mims and Kelvin Butler all assured the crowd they were working to bring industrial prospects and jobs to southwest Mississippi.