Gov. Blunt proposes to double funding for college scholarships

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Gov. Matt Blunt proposed Wednesday to more than double the state scholarship money going to needy college students.

As part of his State of the State address Wednesday night, Blunt was to recommend $72.5 million for needs-based scholarships during next school year, said spokeswoman Jessica Robinson.

The state's two needs-based scholarship programs are budgeted to get $27.3 million during the current school year.

"Scholarships are extremely important to Governor Blunt, and he has dramatically increased his scholarship proposals," Robinson said.

Legislators and state education officials also have been looking for ways to expand and improve Missouri's scholarship programs, as state higher education budget cuts have contributed to sizable tuition increases in recent years.

Robinson said Blunt's scholarship proposal is connected to his plan to use $350 million from the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority to finance college construction projects across the state.

When Republican legislative leaders agreed several months ago to support Blunt's building plan, they also struck a deal with the governor's office to increase state funding for college scholarships.

That increased funding could flow through one -- instead of two -- needs-based scholarships.

The Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education has recommended combining the state's Charles Gallagher Student Financial Assistance Program and its Missouri College Guarantee Program into a single needs-based scholarship. That recommendation assumed an additional $25 million would be added to needs-based scholarships.

A report released Wednesday by the Senate Interim Committee on the Cost of a College Education also recommended combining the two current scholarship programs.