Governor Severely Slashes FY 2015 Budget
As the ranking minority party leader serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee, I was proud of the work my colleagues and I were able to deliver on behalf of our state's much-needed programs and departments. We spent countless hours deliberating on how to increase spending for our K-12 and higher education institutions, provide additional funding to strengthen Missouri's mental health system, allocate money to construct the dilapidated Fulton State Hospital, and fund restoration of dental benefits for Medicaid-eligible adults currently not receiving these services. Unfortunately, most of these funding items are being withheld or were vetoed by the governor in a political game of chicken.
The governor's recent vetoes and restrictions include:
- $102. million GR restricted of the $114.8 million GR increase passed by the Legislature for the state's K-12 school foundation formula.
- $43.4 million GR restricted of the $43.4 GR increase for performace-based funding for higher education institutions—5 percent total increase for two- and four-year public institutions.
- Additional funding for several higher education scholarship programs was also restricted, including $12 million GR of the $15 million GR allocated for the Access Missouri Scholarship Program, $4 million GR of the $7 million allocated for the Bright Flight expansion to include a loan forgiveness component; and $2 million GR of the $6.7 million GR allocated for the A+ Schools Program.
- $6.5 million vetoed of the $16.6 million in additional funding allocated to strengthen Missouri's mental health system.
- $17.8 million GR restricted of the $17.8 million GR designated to restore dental benefits for Medicaid-eligible adults.
- $4 million GR vetoed of the $4 million GR allocated to the Utilicare program to help low-income Missourians pay their utility bills.
- 1 percent pay increase restricted for the 1 percent cost-of-living assessment increase for all state employees beginning Jan. 1, 2015.
In addition to these beneficial programs' cuts and withholds, the governor also slashed funding ($500,000) for a project designed to help citizens in the Kansas City area. The University of Missouri-Kansas City Center for Neighborhoods through the Department of Architecture, Urban Planning and Design would have met the critical needs of our city's neighborhoods through technical assistance, capacity building, neighborhood planning, and design services, legal aid and organizational assistance. As a strong proponent of neighborhood growth and health, which is vital to the metropolitan area and its economy, I will continue to support the basic technical assistance and support services needed to maintain basic operations and improve our neighborhoods' effectiveness.
While many vital programs were eliminated or put on hold, funding remains intact for educational programs for students who reside in the Kansas City Public School District ($100,000), in which a portion of the funds will go toward supporting an extended learning program. In addition, $250,000 has been allocated to the Negro Leagues Museum to support the Buck O'Neill Education Center, which was voted top 50 spots to visit for 50 states; $150,000 for the World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial; and $100,000 for the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District to support the Missouri Jazz Walk of Fame. I fought for this funding for Kansas City's top destinations and services for those who both visit and call our great city home.
The new fiscal year started July 1 and runs through June 30, 2015.
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