Senate Appropriations Committee Hard at Work on State Budget
The Missouri Senate received the 13 appropriations bills that make up the Fiscal Year 2018 state budget on April 6. Since then, the Senate Appropriations Committee, which I serve on, has been operating at full speed. This week alone, we met for roughly 12 hours over the course of three days. During these hearings, we take a closer look at each budget bill — reviewing the House’s decision and then reconciling them with all the information we’ve gathered throughout the entire process. Finally, we make any changes we feel are necessary before sending the bills to the full Senate for consideration.
After the Senate has approved the budget, we will meet in conference with the House to work out any remaining differences. Once the Legislature has approved the final budget, it will go to the governor’s desk. While we are constitutionally required to deliver a balanced, reasonable spending plan that the governor will approve, the governor does have the ability to veto individual line items or entire budget bills.
This week we will reach the deadline for filing federal and state income taxes which this year is April 18th. April is also the month we recognize Tax Freedom Day. For those who aren’t familiar with it, Tax Freedom Day is the day Missouri taxpayers have collectively earned enough to pay their taxes for the year. In 2016, Missourians reached their Tax Freedom Day on April 12 — 12 days ahead of the national benchmark. Because state and local taxes vary throughout the country, states will have different Tax Freedom Days. To learn more about Tax Freedom Day, please visit TaxFoundation.org.
At this point in session, our most important job as lawmakers is to keep moving the budget forward, so we can hit our May 5 constitutional deadline. The budget process isn’t easy, but it’s a big part of what we sign on for as legislators. It is our single-greatest responsibility and one I take very seriously. I am certainly looking forward to these last legislative days as we continue working to allocate Missouri taxpayer dollars to benefit the state and our local communities.
As always, please feel free to call, email, or write with your ideas or concerns. My Capitol office number is (573) 751-1415, my email is dan.hegeman@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 332, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.