JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers sent the governor a $24 billion budget plan Thursday that shores up funding for veterans homes, gives raises to a reduced state work force and spares public schools and universities from cuts — a result legislators praised as an accomplishment in what they bemoaned as another tight budget year.
The budget depends on a surge of money from the Missouri Lottery, which has yet to say how it will generate the cash. The budget leaves little money left over in case revenue projections miss their mark. And Gov. Jay Nixon’s office already has indicated that he intends to ignore a section that seeks to impose eligibility limits and premiums on blind people receiving state-funded health care.
After the budget was nearly derailed during a tense start to the week in the Senate, the final version passed the House and Senate with comparative ease. It now goes to Nixon, who can veto particular appropriations or withhold money from programs if he believes the budgeted expenditures will exceed state revenues.
Nixon said in a written statement that he will review every line in the spending plan over the next several weeks to. The budget takes effect July 1.
The election-year budget includes no tax increases — a fact touted by Republican legislative leaders and the Democratic governor alike. But it spends almost everything the state expects to take in, leaving a projected cushion of little over $6 million — far less than normal — for any midyear adjustments.
The budget includes a reduction of 956 full-time state employees compared to the current year. Those who remain — and earn less than $70,000 annually — will get a 2 percent pay raise.
Basic aid for K-12 school districts would rise by about $5 million, a small amount on top of the $3 billion received this year but enough for politicians to tout a record level of funding when they return to the campaign trail. School aid still would fall in excess of $400 million short of what’s called for by the funding formula.
Lawmakers increased spending for higher education by about $3 million .