Ellington

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Budget officials are recommending that Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant withdraw $63.1 million from state savings to cover the 2016 deficit.

Department of Finance and Administration spokesman Chuck McIntosh says the agency's deputy executive director, Flip Phillips, is making the recommendation to Bryant Thursday, the final day of the budget year.

Lawmakers met in special session this week and authorized Bryant to withdraw as much as needed from the state's rainy day fund to cover shortfalls.

McIntosh says the money will be available over the next two months to pay bills as officials close out books.

With tax collections running more than $200 million below original expectations, Republican Bryant earlier made two rounds of budget cuts and withdrew $45 million in rainy day funds. The fund has a $349 million balance.