Two local projects found funding Friday that will allow them toproceed as planned.

The Mississippi School of the Arts and the previously-approved,but unfunded, Mental Health Crisis Center were included inappropriations bills as lawmakers wrap up work on next year’sbudget.

House and Senate budget writers said Friday they will provide $2million for the start of classes at the Mississippi School of theArts in Brookhaven. The school had asked for $3.1 million inoperating funds, but lawmakers struggling to balance the budgetsaid that money would be hard to find.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jack Gordon, D-Okolona,said the $2 million will be put into the Mississippi ArtsCommission budget or into a pending education funding bill.

Rep. Jim Barnett, R-Brookhaven, said legislative leaders havealso agreed to issue $1 million in bonds, the majority of whichwill go to buy equipment at the school.

”Naturally, they wanted more. But we’ll make everything workwith this,” said Barnett, a member of the House AppropriationsCommittee.

Also included in the budget will be $2.2 million to be used forconstruction of a Crisis Center for the Department of MedicalHealth. The 24-bed psychiatric hospital was approved by thelegislature two years ago but never funded.

The arts school will be a home-away-from-home for students,who’ll study visual arts, theater, music and dance. Other courses,such as math and science will be taught at Brookhaven HighSchool.

School officials said they expect to enroll about 90 students inthe first class. The students must first meet the school’s criteriaand undergo interviews and auditions.

The 1999 Legislature created the arts school and provided $11.9million for planning and renovation of campus buildings. Another $7million was appropriated in 2001.

Gordon and House Appropriations Committee Chairman CharlieCapps, D-Cleveland, continued Friday digging through nooks andcrannies of various state budgets to find more money for the comingfiscal year.

They faced a Saturday deadline to put the final touches onspending plans for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The fullHouse and Senate will begin approving those plans Sunday.

Gordon said budget writers will borrow from obscure parts of thebudget to pay for education, prisons and Medicaid.

”We’re trying to find those ways where there will be no pain tothose we are borrowing from,” Gordon said.