BUDGET REFLECTS DESEG SAVINGS

Missouri's budget is taking final shape, as the Senate has completed action on all 12 House bills that make it up. A House-Senate conference committee is at work ironing out differences. This is the only truly indispensable piece of business before lawmakers. They could adjourn without passing any of the other hundreds of bills before them, but the budget is an inescapable constitutional obligation.

At a whopping $13.7 billion, the budget is, as always, in balance, pursuant to the constitutional mandate. Moreover, desegregation costs have fallen to $262 million from $322 million. State taxpayers should thank the Lord for small favors in this category, where the state has shelled out $2.9 billion since 1980. Further, this fiscal year will mark the first in which the entire formula for distributing state aid to local school districts is fully funded.