Upper Chamber Approves the State’s $28 Billion Operating Budget

For the last 15 weeks, the Appropriations Committee and staff have been studying budget line-items. We have discussed and debated the best uses of our taxpayers’ dollars. The ultimate goal is to find a way to fund the critical functions of government including education, public safety and transportation while still balancing the needs of the most vulnerable in Missouri.

From the beginning, I’ve focused on two issues I felt were at a crisis level of funding: higher education and funding for nursing homes. My colleagues and I worked to make sure we could resolve those crises. I’m proud to announce not only did the Senate restore the cuts to higher education proposed by the governor, we also restored a 1.5 percent provider rate cut made last year by the governor to in-home health care and increased nursing home reimbursement rates. By funding these programs we are protecting most vulnerable, the elderly and the disabled, in our state.

Together with the House, the Senate restored the $68 million cut to Missouri’s community colleges and four-year institutions proposed by the governor. We also secured funding for a dental program at Missouri Southern State University and $10 million for the University of Missouri Cooperative Medical School Expansion. Funding higher education is critical for us to keep to our commitment to ensure Missouri has an educated, well-training workforce ready for the 21st century jobs and careers.

A big part of the discussion this session has revolved around funding for the state’s K-12 education. After speaking with many superintendents, my colleagues and I felt there was a dire need to find more money for transportation spending for schools. In an effort to fund school transportation, we approved a $48 million increase in funding to the Foundation Formula and a $25 million increase in school transportation spending. With this increase to the Foundation Formula, we are meeting the State Adequacy Target as well as fulfilling the transportation needs especially for our rural school districts.

The only Constitutional mandate for legislators is to pass a balanced budget. I believe, thanks to lots of long hours and hard work from my staff and colleagues, this budget reflects our priorities and commitments to the citizens of Missouri. While we still have some work to do in conference, I’m proud to represent the Senate’s position on funding the important functions of government.

Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla

District 16