The Missouri General Assembly has concluded its only constitutionally mandated obligation for the year, and that is to pass the budget for the next fiscal year and send it to the governor. Plus, we did so with one day to spare.

Missouri’s operating budget for Fiscal Year 2015 totals $26.4 billion. The final version of the budget includes a $114.8 million increase for the state’s K-12 school foundation formula, with $3.1 billion in basic state aid for education. It also includes $43.3 million for performance-based funding for higher education institutions (5 percent total increase for two- and four-year public institutions), along with $15 million for the Access Missouri Scholarship Program, $7 million for Bright Flight expansion to include a loan forgiveness component, and a $6.7 million increase for the A+ Schools Program.

I am also happy to announce the Missouri Department of Agriculture will also see an increase in 2015. The 22 percent change includes $7,223,100 in additional funding for the biodiesel incentive payments. Agriculture is Missouri’s No. 1 industry, but state spending in this area only accounts for approximately 1 percent of the entire Missouri budget.

The FY 2015 state spending plan also includes $14.2 million for a 25-year plan bonding proposal for the Fulton State Hospital and $198 million to construct the new maximum security mental health facility.

More than $16.6 million in additional funding goes to strengthening Missouri’s mental health system, as well as $17.8 million in general revenue to restore dental benefits for Medicaid-eligible adults. In addition, $4 million was allocated to the Utilicare program to help low-income Missourians pay their utility bills.

In March, the full House starts to debate the budget bills. There are 13 bills altogether that make up the entire state operating budget. After House members pass their version, it comes to the Senate. Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee then work on a version of the state budget that will go before the full Senate. After senators pass their budget package, it may become necessary to form a conference committee, if the House does not agree to the Senate’s changes. A conference committee consists of both Senate and House members. These conference committees will take a week or two to make their changes, and the revised budget bills go through the House and Senate a second time for final approval before moving on to the governor.

In addition, the Show-Me State is required to have a balanced budget each year, by law. The most important task assigned to the Legislature is taken very seriously, and I am glad to know that all of us in the Missouri General Assembly have worked diligently to see to it that the tax dollars in our state are used wisely.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Thank you.