Education budget exceeds governor's request

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- House Republicans on Tuesday offered a revised state spending plan that would allocate more money for elementary and secondary education than requested by Democratic Gov. Bob Holden, who for the last year has accused the chamber's majority party of failing to provide ample funding for public schools.

Confident that state revenue collections will continue to improve, House Budget Committee Chairman Carl Bearden, R-St. Charles, added $101.7 million to the amount his committee had endorsed Monday for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The change brings the DESE's appropriation for the fiscal year beginning July 1 to $4.75 billion -- $40.2 million more than Holden sought and $201.7 million more than approved for the current year.

In terms of direct state aid to local school districts, the House plan would provide $2.75 billion for an increase of $10 million over the governor's recommendation and $133.6 million more than approved for this year's budget.

"We are providing more money for education than the governor proposed, without a tax increase," said House Majority Floor Leader Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau.

When Holden presented his $18.82 billion budget proposal to the Missouri Legislature in January, it was accompanied by a call for $520 million in higher taxes and other revenue increases. Republican leaders largely ignored such suggestions.

The $18.64 billion spending plan being debated by the House is $184.2 million less than the governor's recommendation.

4.5 percent growthThe House proposal would grow overall state spending by $810 million, or 4.5 percent, from what lawmakers originally approved for the current year.

However, the Senate on Tuesday granted final passage to a $240.1 million supplement of the existing budget, which will boost approved spending for the present fiscal year to nearly $18.1 billion. The supplemental appropriations bill now awaits Holden's signature.

In addition to the additional education boost for the coming fiscal year, Bearden added another $47 million for other purposes, including funds for a 2 percent across-the-board pay increase for state employees, most of whom have gone several years without a salary increase.

The House began debating the 12 appropriations bills that make up the state operating budget Tuesday afternoon with the discussion slated to continue until midnight. Work on the measure is expected to resume today.

While spending on public schools would increase under the House plan, appropriations for higher education would decrease slightly but remain around $1 billion.

Southeast Missouri State University's share would be $42.9 million, roughly the same as its present appropriation but $2.4 million less than Holden wants.

House Minority Floor Leader Rick Johnson, D-High Ridge, said the majority's plan shows little financial support for Missouri's colleges and universities. Johnson said Missouri ranks 46th among the states in per capita government spending on higher education.

"That is no way to develop the work force needed for the 21st century economy in this state," Johnson said.

Boosted tuitionAs a result of higher education cuts in recent years, Missouri's four-year institutions have boosted student tuition anywhere from 30 to 60 percent since the 2000-2001 school year.

Crowell said the governing boards of some universities have hiked tuition far in excess of the amounts needed to replace lost state funding.

"I think they are using these economic times we find ourselves in to prey on students with higher fees," Crowell said.

Once the House approves the spending measures, they will face further action in the Senate, which Republicans also control. Lawmakers must send a finished budget to the governor no later than May 7, in accordance with the Missouri Constitution.

The bills are HB 1101 through HB 1112.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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