State's veterans seek money from early childhood education

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- In a year of difficult funding decisions for the General Assembly, one proposal in particular pits two cherished groups -- preschool children and military veterans -- directly against each other.

A bill the Senate gave first-round approval to this week would shift $4 million a year through 2006 from early childhood education programs into a fund that helps pay for various veterans services and that is in danger of insolvency.

Veterans supporters note the money -- and much more -- was earmarked for veterans programs until a 1998 law claimed it for early childhood education. Education advocates, while not dismissing needs of veterans, say giving young children a solid educational foundation before they begin kindergarten is also important.

Prior to the 1998 law, which was championed by then-Gov. Mel Carnahan, approximately $30 million a year from casino entrance fees went into the Veterans Commission Capital Improvement Trust Fund. The fund was originally established to build veterans homes and cemeteries. That earmarked funding was set to expire in 1999. However, with the support of veterans' groups, the commission traded that last $30 million payment in exchange for $3 million a year in entrance fee revenue in perpetuity.

At the time, everyone involved thought the trust fund would be sufficient to cover future needs. However, in recent years lawmakers began raiding the fund for additional purposes that had previously been paid for through the state's general fund.

"What that all means is when you add all the additional obligations to the trust fund, in about 2006 that fund will go broke," said Ron Taylor, superintendent of services and cemeteries for the veterans commission.

Taylor said the fund today contains about $60 million, but soon will be further depleted with a $10 million payment toward refurbishing the Liberty Memorial in Kansas and $15 million for veterans home projects in Mt. Vernon and St. Louis.

Ongoing maintenance and operating expenses for veterans facilities will continue to drain the fund, Taylor said.

Construction slated to start next month of a state veterans cemetery in Bloomfield is being funded with federal money. However, operation of the cemetery, which is scheduled to open in the summer of 2003, would come from the trust fund.

The Senate bill, sponsored by state Sen. Anita Yeckel, R-St. Louis, would increase the fund's take from casino fees to $7 million a year.

State Sen. Jim Mathewson, D-Sedalia and a member of the veterans affairs committee, said Missouri provides only minimal services for veterans and those it does offer must be protected.

Dr. Orlo Shroyer, the deputy commissioner of education, said officials at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education are sympathetic to the needs of veterans.

"We don't want to get into a fight with veterans over this money," Shroyer said.

While the department isn't opposing Yeckel's bill, Shroyer said "we have some concerns about what would happen" if it passes.

DESE's take from casino fees goes into the Early Childhood Development, Education and Care Fund. Grants from the fund are distributed to public school districts to establish preschools and private day care operators to augment their services with strong educational components.

Fulfilling DESE needs

Quality preschools aren't available in many small, rural communities, Shroyer said. The state grants aim to change that.

State Rep. Carson Ross, R-Blue Springs, is sponsoring a similar bill in the House, though his measure would split casino fees equally between the veterans and early childhood funds. Ross' measure would provide roughly $14 million a year for veterans services -- double that called for in the Senate version.

Ross' bill cleared committee several weeks ago, but House Speaker Jim Kreider, D-Nixa, hasn't placed it on the calendar for debate. Ross said he is hopeful when the Senate bill is forwarded to the House, which is expected next week, it will enjoy speedy action.

"Personally, I don't want to be responsible for putting our veterans on the street," said Ross, a Vietnam veteran. "I hope no one else in the body wants credit for that."

Kreider, who was the House handler of the bill that established the veterans trust fund, said he doesn't necessarily oppose the current proposals. "The question is how much money do veterans need to sustain their programs?" Kreider said.

The bills are SB 676 and HB 1613.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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