JEFFERSON CITY — Legislation sponsored by Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, was signed into law today (7-9). Senate Bill 723 authorizes up to $600 million in new bonding authority by the state. Of this amount, $400 million is to be dedicated to maintenance and repairs of state-owned buildings.
“Taking care of buildings the taxpayers of this state have invested in is not a Republican or Democrat or urban or rural issue,” said Sen. Parson. “To me, it is a basic responsibility of the job the voters have sent us to Jefferson City to do, and I am pleased with the governor’s action on this legislation.”
Of the $400 million for deferred maintenance and repairs, $200 million is to be used on the campuses of Missouri’s colleges and universities. The other $200 million are for projects on other state-owned facilities. The remaining $200 million was dedicated for the construction of a new Fulton State Hospital in Callaway County. Because funding for this project is contained in the FY 2015 budget, the potential exists for this money to be used for other projects in the future.
“Many of the buildings are beyond the economical point of repair and are not conducive to either a good working or living environment. Because of this, we are paying more than we should for utilities, lost productivity, and workers’ compensation claims,” said Sen. Parson. “Interest rates are still low and the state has an excellent credit rating, so now is a good time to address this issue.”
The legislation will go into effect on Aug. 28, 2014. For more information on Sen. Parson’s sponsored legislation, visit his official Missouri Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/parson. |
