COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Families may have to pick up more of the tab if they want to send their gifted students to the University of Missouri for a one-month summer program.
Missouri Scholars Academy Director Steve Keller said putting the burden of paying more on the backs of students and their families is not the best answer. But after Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed and withheld funding, Keller says it’s the only option, The Columbia Daily Tribune reported.

The program costs about $450,000, and the state and the university have chipped in around $150,000 each since 2009. The cost to families has been around $500 per student, with students in financial need attending for a discounted rate or for free. Nixon said he needs to cut money to prevent the budget from becoming unbalanced and has accused the legislature of irresponsible spending and passage of tax-cut legislation.

The program shares a budget line at the state level with the Missouri Fine Arts Academy. Both programs were affected by Nixon vetoing $550,000 of the $750,000 that the General Assembly appropriated for the two academies. Nixon withheld the remaining $200,000.

Keller said he has no idea whether that money will be released. If Nixon continues to withhold the funds, Missouri Scholars Academy leaders plan to charge students and their families $1,000.