State budget - Time to consider increase in revenue

By Robert Fulton

PATTON, Mo. -- We have all heard the suggestion that Missouri should respond to its budget crisis the same way a family would: by learning to live within its needs.

That is what responsible families do. They trim the extras. They postpone vacations and cut back on sporting events, restaurant meals and movies. Family members place the new coat or dress that are really not needed back on the rack.

And so it goes. Families work backward, cutting what is least essential first.

Unfortunately, some families find that no matter how much they cut, they simply can't make ends meet. They are unable to pay both the rent and the electric bill. They are faced with the choice of buying food or buying gas so the breadwinner can travel to work.

What then?

An obvious answer is to get a second job or a better job. At some point, a family absolutely needs to increase its income.

Missouri is like a lot of those families. Our governor and legislature have eliminated what might appear to some to be excesses. They have lopped off administrative staff, clerical staff and money for new computers and training. Higher-education funding was slashed. State employees' raises were put on hold last year (again.) Experienced state employees are being encouraged to take early retirement. Vacant positions are not being filled.

Missouri's budget cuts have already gone beyond trimming the fat. Cuts that truly hurt many people have been made in treatment services for children, support for families who adopt children and support for grandparents who step up to care for their grandchildren when parents can't.

The governor and legislature have also slashed money that supports quality early care for children of low-income working parents, mental health services, medical benefits for some needy adults and medical insurance for a large number of adults and children.

And don't forget that Missouri isn't able to fully fund public schools or make urgently needed repairs to our roads.

The governor has withheld money from the approved budget for the last two years. The revenue projection for this year requires cutting about $1 billion more from last year's already reduced budget. Yes, Missouri is way beyond trimming excess, unless health insurance or care for the mentally ill and the infirm are to be considered luxuries.

Is it time to admit that we simply can't afford to provide essential state services?

Or is it time to say that we need to increase our revenue?

I am convinced the latter is the only responsible course of action.

Let us return to the comparison of Missouri with a family: Many families can never afford luxuries. It is likewise clear that Missouri has never had the resources to enable it to afford a lot of services that have been taken for granted in other states. Missouri ranks 42nd in state revenue per capita and 48th in total state and local revenue per capita. This means we have chosen to be a low-tax state.

By default, we have treated as non-essentials many needs related to child health, child safety and school readiness.

Now Missouri faces the reality that even those services we have decided are essential are about to be decimated unless something fundamental is done to change the situation.

Every crisis can also be an opportunity. While many families who struggle to meet their basic needs have their efforts thwarted by lack of education, lack of transportation, ill health or lack of jobs, Missouri is hampered only by self-imposed restraints. Missouri has opportunities to increase its revenue.

Missouri's governor and its legislators must reassess their positions on the budget. Our elected leaders need to come together in a bipartisan spirit, speak to the voters boldly and powerfully and act courageously to assure that Missouri has the revenue it needs to provide essential services to its citizens, especially to its children.

Robert Fulton is a member of the Citizens for Missouri's Children board in St. Louis and is a former executive director of the East Missouri Action Agency.