NATCHEZ &045;&045; Rep. Sam Mims says there’s no reason to levy any new taxes when the state’s revenues are on the rise.

&uot;Revenues are increasing from last year,&uot; said Mims, who represents a portion of Adams County. &uot;We are bringing in more money, the problem is our spending.

&uot;I’m convinced we can cut spending, that’s the way we need to go.&uot;

Though the House passed a 50-cents-a-pack increase in late January, Mims said he wasn’t in favor of the tax.

&uot;I’ve voted several times against the tax increase on cigarettes. I don’t think we need to raise taxes without our spending being under control.&uot;

The House cigarette tax bill died before being brought to the full Senate for consideration. Thursday, 26 senators said they would vote to pass the tax if given the chance. Sens. Bob Dearing and Kelvin Butler, who represent portions of Adams County, were among that group.

The legislature faces a Saturday deadline for budget bills.

Among those budgets is funding for K-12 education, something Mims said he would like to see fully funded. The Mississippi Department of Education has requested $2.08 billion to pay for operational costs and a pre-promised teacher pay raise.

&uot;Education is very important to southwest Mississippi as a whole and also in economic development,&uot; Mims said. &uot;When you look a the budget as a whole, K-12 is probably the only agency that will receive an increase in funds, even if it’s not what they want.&uot;

We are cutting everywhere else, so at least it’s not a decrease.&uot;