House expands some spending

By Phil Cobb | March 18, 2015 |

Allen Andrews

After more than six hours of debate Tuesday and several more hours Thursday, the Missouri House approved the 13 appropriations bills that make up the state operating budget for Fiscal Year 2016.

Checking in at slightly more than $26.1 billion, the state spending plan that will begin in July of this year boosts funding for several vital state programs including our systems of K-12 and higher education, and services to some of our state’s most vulnerable citizens.

In many cases, we were able to increase funding beyond what the governor recommended in his budget proposal submitted in January.

Some highlights of the budget work completed this week include:

• $74.2 million increase for Foundation Formula that provides funding for our K-12 public schools (This amounts to the largest K-12 funding request in Missouri’s history)

• $5 million increase for Early Childhood Special Education;

• Nearly $2.5 million in new funding for the Parents as Teachers program;

• $12 million increase for performance funding for Missouri’s public institutions of higher education;

• $6 million increase for equity funding for Missouri’s two-year colleges;

• $2 million increase for the A+ schools program;

• $1 million increase for autism regional projects;

• $7.2 million appropriated for the MOST intervention model for children who are trauma victims;

• $16.3 million in funding for MoHealthnet adult dental benefits;

• $13.7 million in funding for the Show-Me Healthy Babies program

The House version of the budget also restores funding to several programs that were targeted for core reductions by the governor. These include:

• Elks mobile dental program – $200,000 restored

• Area Health Education Centers – $250,000 restored

• Newborn screenings – $191,400 restored

• Area Agencies on Aging – Meals on Wheels – $400,000 restored

• Community Health Access Programs – $1 million restored

• Medical and Behavioral health homes for foster children – $250,000 restored

• Utilicare funding – $4 million restored

• Social innovation grants – $1 million restored

These are just a few of the highlights of the balanced, fiscally responsible budget that is now on its way to the Missouri Senate. We will likely see changes made in the other chamber as they move the 13 appropriations bills through a process similar to the one they underwent in the House. Any changes made in the Senate will have to be approved, or negotiated in conference committees, before the budget is finalized and sent to the governor for approval.