The North Mississippi Regional Center has long been a trusted and valuable member of our community, serving clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities with impeccable care.

That isn’t about to change. But it won’t be easy watching such an important service provider to families and individuals in need cut back its services due to state budget cuts.

Mississippi has cut $8 million in annual funding to NMRC, cuts that take effect on July 1. That’s a drastic number to an agency already tasked with making the most of what is available. The center has no choice but to reduce services, and as a result, it has stopped admitting new residential patients and evaluations and therapeutic services to infants and children under the age of 3 will be eliminated.

Other programs may be cut or reduced as well.

We are proud of the work done by the NMRC staff, which has shown through the years that tax dollars can be well spent and provide high value when managed right.

But we are troubled to see our state take from those who need it most, those with few other places to turn.

Mississippi has an obligation to do better than whittling away at a valuable place like NMRC.