Even though the Senate passed its version of the Fiscal Year 2016 budget, it could be argued that the hardest part is yet to come. The process of Missouri’s budget begins with the governor’s recommendations, which were presented in his State of the State Address in mid-January.  The House Budget Committee then drafted and presented its budget.  After the House budget bills reached the Senate, the Senate Appropriations Committee carried on its public hearing process considering proposals presented by various state departments.  We then reviewed the House’s plan in comparison to the Senate’s plan, and added any necessary amendments. The Senate ultimately approved a $26.1 billion dollar spending plan for FY 2016, which begins July 1 and runs through June 30, 2016. 

During this process, the Senate approved an $84.2 million dollar increase to spending for public schools, and $27.6 million increase for higher education to be distributed 90 percent on performance based funding. Unlike the federal government, Missouri’s spending cannot exceed its revenue, and therefore, we must constitutionally submit a balanced and fiscally responsible budget every year.  We have a responsibility to the taxpayers, who fund Missouri’s spending plan, to spend within our means, and to treat their hard-earned money as if it were our own. 

Next week, the Budget Conference Committee begins hammering out the differences between the two chambers’ spending plans, and tries to reconcile them into one package that can be passed by the legislature and ultimately sent to the governor for his signature or veto.

The conference committee consists of 10 members, five each from the Senate and House.  As a member of the eleven-person Senate Appropriations Committee, I have been part of the ongoing budget process. This year, I have been appointed by President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey to serve on the conference committee for education bills, House Bill 2, K-12 Education, and House Bill 3, Higher Education.  After the conference committee agrees upon one version of the budget, it will return first to the House and then to the Senate for final approval before being sent to the governor’s desk.

The budget bills contain approximately 1,500 line items that have each been examined at length.  As a legislative body, we appropriate money to what we consider to be priorities.  That being said, the Senate has worked diligently to ensure funding for both K-12 and higher education. 

My colleagues and I consider it a priority to fund our children’s futures.  Even when our responsibilities lead us to debate long into the night, which recently happened, we have remained dedicated to passing a balanced budget that best serves the interest of all Missourians.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or (573) 751-2272, or by fax at (573) 526-7381.