With two weeks left in the 95th General Assembly the Missouri House gave final approval to a budget that has been the major focus for most of us for the last four months. Thirteen budget bills totaling $23.3 billion for the fiscal year beginning July 1 were agreed upon by both chambers and will be sent to the Governor for final approval. This budget, which is balanced according to current figures, will fund the critical functions of our state government without a tax increase and ahead of schedule. Working together, the Missouri House and Senate reduced the Governors proposed budget by $484 million, making the tough decisions necessary to keep Missouri afloat in this harsh economy. The budget process was completed more than a week in advance of the constitutionally set deadline, an unexpected accomplishment that I have not seen in recent years.
As an education advocate, I was disappointed that we could not fully fund the Parents as Teachers program and that transportation funding for our schools was reduced. However, the Foundation Formula was frozen at current levels and our commitment to education remained a high priority. Total funding for K-12 education will exceed $5.3 billion and spending on public education will climb to 35% of our general revenue. Higher education took a 5.2% cut, less than predicted, and tuition for in-state students will remain the same in public institutions across the state. We were able to maintain the Access Missouri student needs based grant program, which is very important for lower income students, and the Bright Flight scholarship program was funded. This will encourage our best and brightest to stay in Missouri institutions.
Because of our continued efforts to walk that fiscally conservative path, we have been able to keep Missouri in a leadership position when it comes to financial stability. When compared to other states in our great nation, Missouri is staying ahead of the game and operating the best we can while our state revenues continue to decline.
On another note, the Missouri House had the privilege to welcome nearly 200 veterans to the Capitol on Tuesday to be recognized on the House floor and to be honored by our members and their staffs. Specifically, this group was given the opportunity to participate in the Central Missouri Honor Flight, which is a non-profit organization that flies veterans to Washington D.C. to view their memorials and tour our Capitol. This is also done in other parts of Missouri and I have had the privilege of visiting with veterans in Northwest Missouri who have had that privilege in which they so well deserve. We face many difficult decisions in the Missouri General Assembly but our service pales in comparison to what our veterans have done for us. We must hold their honorable service in our hearts and continually thank veterans for all that they have given.
If you have questions, you may reach me at my Capitol number 573-751-9465, at the local district number, 660-582-4014, by email at mike.thomson@house.mo.gov or by mail at Room 114B State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.
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