Top legislators are recommending only a slight increase in Mississippi state government spending for the coming year. And, Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn is renewing his push to eliminate the state income tax. Mississippi's 2023 budget year ends June 30, and the the 2024 budget year begins July 1. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee adopted initial 2024 spending recommendations Tuesday. The plan has an additional $32 million to pay for state employees’ health insurance, an additional $12.3 million for the foster care system and an additional $2.4 million for the state forensics lab. An overall state budget should be set by early April.