Dempsey: General Assembly Sends $23 Billion Budget on to the Governor

On Thursday, the Missouri House and Senate took up and passed a $23 billion operating budget that negotiators had hammered out the day before. This final version of the budget upholds our priorities of funding K-12 and higher education and was completed without raising taxes on hardworking Missourians.

Though there were many highlights in this year’s budget, space only permits me to discuss a few. Our actions on the 2012 budget helped lessen a cut to higher education proposed by the governor. Although we worked with the same revenue estimates as the governor, we were able to identify $22 million in restorations to K-12 and higher education. This $22 million includes $12 million for Missouri’s two- and four-year colleges and universities and $10 million for Missouri’s K-12 transportation needs, such as the cost of bussing students to and from schools.

These actions will help to mitigate the steep tuition increases many Missouri families and students were facing. Having found extra money for our colleges and universities, we expect them to pass on these dollars to the students they exist to serve.

The Legislature also voted to maintain the school funding formula at its current level. In historically bleak economic times that have seen state revenues shrink dramatically over the past few years, holding the line of education is itself a victory.

On another note, the budget we passed contained funding to continue Missouri’s Senior Rx Program. This program helps to provide reduced-cost prescription drugs to many of Missouri’s seniors. The money ($19.6 million) will now be available for the upcoming fiscal year should legislation extending the program’s automatic sunset also pass the Legislature.

The constitutional deadline to complete the budget was Friday, May 6, at 6 p.m. The bills making up the budget now move on to the governor. He must accept or veto all or portions of the bills by the start of the state’s Fiscal Year 2012, which begins July 1. If he vetoes any portion of a budget bill, the Legislature will reconvene in September in a constitutionally mandated session to consider overriding such vetoes.

I always appreciate hearing from you. If you have any questions about this issue or any legislation pending before the Missouri Senate, please do not hesitate to contact my office.