Lawmakers, still on Easter break, have yet to make a final budget plan, leaving us all worried about fulfilling the needs of priorities.

Talks before the extended holiday included plans to shuffle money from this fund or that fund into the education fund. It’s at least promising that some lawmakers are trying to fund education to the fullest.

But talk of cuts to our schools loom.

That’s why it’s nice to take a drive through Co-Lin Circle these days. It’s a rare sight — in Natchez at least — to see construction of a new school building.

The newest of our public school district’s schools is 45 years old. Alcorn State University and Co-Lin have been the only site of physical academic growth in years.

And the construction of the new Health Science Center is long overdue, Co-Lin faculty and students will tell you.

The addition will allow the expansion of classes, programs and learning. State-of-the-art equipment will fill the building upon completion, and students from our area will have new opportunities.

The construction was made possible by, you guessed it, tax dollars. This time the money was local, not state though.

The Adams County Board of Supervisors in 2007 approved the continuation of an existing millage, which provides the college with approximately $370,000 a year.

It’s comforting to know that — even if needed state dollars don’t come through — our local community is making an investment in our future.

The job, nor the investment, is over, though, and it’s time to begin talking about physical improvements to our aging public schools as well.