VO-TECH FUNDING PASSES SENATE

The Missouri Senate approved $3.15 million in funding for construction of Cape Girardeau's vocational-technical school.

The legislation was part of the state's massive appropriation bills considered by the Senate Wednesday.

Funding bills haven't yet cleared the House, and the Cape Girardeau vocational school funding has hit more snags in that chamber.

When a final bill comes out of the House, it will head to a conference committee to hash out the differences.

"I have an assurance that we will try to get the full amount. We've had our hand strengthened," said Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau.

Funding for the Cape Girardeau vocational school is part of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's budget of $3.5 billion, by far the largest appropriations bill considered by the Senate.

In January, Gov. Mel Carnahan included $3.15 million in his proposed Missouri budget. But the governor's budget is subject to revision by the Legislature.

Kinder and state Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, have been working to maintain full funding through the appropriations process.

The state money would help construct a 90,000-square-foot vocational-technical school to serve the area.

On April 1, Cape Girardeau voters approved two funding issues. One of the items on the construction list is the larger vocational school. The yes vote helped clinch the positive vote from the Senate, Kinder said.

The $3.15 million in state funds would pay half the construction costs of the building.

Superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent said news of the Senate approval was welcome. District officials are awaiting word from the House.

"Our taxpayers have approved the idea of providing better facilities and programming for the area vocational school," Tallent said. "Now we would like for the legislative process to provide matching funding.

"As taxpayers we send our money to Jefferson City," he said. "This would be a good way to get some of that back locally."

If Cape Girardeau gets state money toward construction of the vocational school, voters will see a tax break when the second phase of the district's construction plan comes before voters.

The amount of bonds needed for construction of a proposed high school would be less by an amount equal to the state construction money the district receives.