Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant came to Meridian to talk about The Commission for a New Mississippi.

The commission is made up of Bryant and seventeen other people who all have a common goal: to come up with a more effective strategy for how the state conducts the business of the people of Mississippi.

"The most important thing that we've seen in government that we need to change is the budget system," Bryant said. "We've got to tie it to outcomes. We've got to say if we're going to invest taxpayers' dollars we want something to show for it."

He says the strategy creates a plan for the state and gives direction for the government to meet the needs of the citizens and creates a performance-based budget plan and a performance review of state agencies.

"This system is used all across the United States because it's so effective," said Bryant. "I believe it would save us at least 5 percent. Five percent of $5 billion is $250 million."

What this new bill comes down to is accountability. If approved, Bryant says the government would operate would act more like a business and not be allowed to spend more money than it makes. So what does this mean for our area?

"It gives a better opportunity for us to perform," said state Sen. Terry Burton of District 31. "We know we can do it. We know we can do the business and get the businesses and industries and locate them here."

"His idea for the state goes back to the same thing that I've been preaching to this community: accountability, taking it back to basics, giving the government back to the people," said Mayor Cheri Barry. "And I want to be a part of it."