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May 11,2001 HOUSE GIVES FINAL APPROVAL TO STATE BUDGET Jefferson City-- In spite of a tight budget year, members of the Missouri House of Representatives have given final approval and sent to Governor Bob Holden a $19 billion state budget that includes significant increases for elementary and secondary education, as well as programs designed to help the elderly. “I believe that we have arrived at a fiscally responsible budget that addresses the state’s immediate needs while preserving our commitment to Missouri’s children,†said Missouri House Speaker Jim Kreider, D-Nixa. “In my view, funding of education is among our most important duties in state government. We must maintain a quality educational system to give our children the education they deserve. Included in the budget is an $84 million increase to fully fund the state foundation formula, which is used to determine the amount of state aid sent to local school districts. In addition, the budget includes a $1.1 million increase in the A+ Schools Program and a $1.5 million increase in the Safe Schools Program. Total, the state budget allocates more than $2 billion to the state’s public school districts, about $78 million more than last year. Other budget increases include a $31.2 million hike in a program for personal care assistance, which is designed to assist the elderly living in their homes, and $4.7 million for First Steps, an early childhood program. The budget also includes approximately $1 billion to be used to pay tax refunds to the people of Missouri. Even though the budget is about $2 billion higher than last year, that is primarily due to an increase in federal funds and the issuance of bonds for highway construction. Overall, House Budget members were faced with the task of cutting approximately a half billion dollars from state agencies, and do so without reducing essential services. “In a tight budget year, priorities must be established and a lot of tough decisions have to be made,†said Representative Tim Green, D-St. Louis County, chairman of the House Budget Committee and sponsor of the bills that make up the state budget. “But through the budget process, we have agreed on a reasonable budget that maintains current services and funds programs important to the people of Missouri—and the budget is balances, and it’s on time.†The state budget now goes to Governor Holden, where it awaits his signature to become law. | |||||
Paid for by Kreider for Senator.
Bobby Neal Jr., Treasurer. Not at taxpayer's expense.
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