Miss. treasurer says state’s tobacco settlement payments fell short of estimates in 2009

Miss. treasurer: Tobacco payments down in 2009

JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi Treasurer Tate Reeves says the state’s latest tobacco settlement collection was more than $8 million below expectations.

Reeves sent Gov. Haley Barbour a letter about the shortfall on Wednesday.

Several tobacco companies transfer money to Mississippi each year as payment for the massive lawsuit the state filed against cigarette makers in the 1990s.

The annual payments are based on national tobacco usage and other factors. Reeves says the payment received last month was more than $8 million less than the previous year.

Reeves says lawmakers should consider revising recommendations for next year’s spending plan based on 2009 collections.