The State of the State

The governor delivered his annual State of the State address this week and laid out his budget priorities for the coming year. His speech focused on familiar themes of education, workforce development and infrastructure investment, all of which have been priorities throughout his administration. There were lots of new ideas, as well.

The governor’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget fully funds the school Foundation Formula, which pays for K-12 education in Missouri. He also asked for $233 million to cover school transportation costs statewide. His requests spanned the entire educational experience, with new programs to expand early childhood education, as well as core funding increases for colleges and universities. To help Missourians prepare for high-tech jobs, he asked the Legislature to continue funding skill development and apprenticeship programs begun in earlier years.

Investing in Missouri’s infrastructure was a major focus of the speech. In addition to funding on-going efforts to maintain roads and bridges throughout the state, the governor asked for $859 million to begin improving Interstate 70. His proposed budget includes money for energy grid enhancements, safety upgrades at railroad crossings and capital improvement projects at several airports, including the one at Jefferson City. Rural broadband also gets a boost, with a request for $250 million to expand access to high speed internet services.

Highlighting Missouri’s poor showing in maternal mortality rankings – 44th worst in the nation – the governor asked the Legislature for $4.3 million to support mothers and their children. He also called for subsidies for child care services to benefit providers, employers and families.

In addition to providing essential services, the State of Missouri is also an employer, with a workforce of more than 50,000 statewide. And like so many other employers, the state has struggled to find and keep employees. Citing more than 7,000 unfilled state job positions, the governor asked for an immediate 8.7% cost of living increase for state workers. In addition to across-the-board raises, he proposed an extra $2 per hour bump for employees who work overnight in prisons, veterans homes and other “congregate care” facilities. These pay raises can’t wait for the regular budget process, he said, so he included them in his supplemental budget request and asked lawmakers to pass the increase by March 1.

With the governor’s requests on the table, the Legislature can begin the process of drafting appropriations bills. There’s no guarantee everything he proposed will pass, but we’ll certainly give his ideas their due. I, for one, will be fighting for the requests that directly benefit the 6th Senatorial District. The pay raises will be at the top of my to-do list.

As always, it is an honor to serve the 6th Senatorial District. If my office can be service to you, please feel free to contact us at 573-751-2076. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Bernskoetter.