Department of Marine Resources budget still in question

A host of tideland funds and environmental projects are on hold and pay will run out August 31^st for 175 employees at the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources because members of the House of Representatives question how the DMR and Governor Tate Reeves plan to spend millions in federal funds.

No date has been set for the legislature to return so that a budget can be approved and adopted.

Legislators reached an impasse on the DMR budget and left the capitol earlier this month.

Without a budget, DMR had to furlough 147 employees for five days in early July before Reeves arranged a workaround to bring them back. DMR might have to initiate new furloughs September 1^st unless the legislature approves a budget before then.