Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Signs Responsible Budget to Benefit Missouri Families
JEFFERSON CITY– Gov. Matt Blunt today signed the state's responsible budget that reflects Missourians' values, lives within the taxpayers' means and that reflects his strong commitment to Missouri students and families.
"Missourians can be proud that we have again carefully balanced the state's resources to honor our shared commitment to education and make important investments in our future that will keep Missouri moving forward," Blunt said. "All the budgets I have signed have rejected complacency so that we could create conditions that would lead to prosperity for every Missourian."
The $21.5 billion state budget Blunt approved includes a $132.6 million increase for the funding formula to support elementary and secondary schools, bringing the total increase in funding to more than half a billion dollars over the last three years. It also includes more than $41.2 million in new state dollars for two and four year colleges and universities, significantly increases funding for needs-based scholarships, and secures nearly $950 million to transform Missouri's health care safety net and introduce Mo HealthNet.
As promised in his State of the State address, the governor kept his commitment to use the people's money wisely. Responsible budgeting decisions allowed the governor to sign a budget that provides a $200 million ending balance to fund key priorities including education and healthcare in future fiscal years.
The governor's carefully balanced, pro-education, pro-family FY 2008 budget includes, among other things, funding to benefit:
STUDENTS
- $132.6 million increase to continue full funding of the foundation formula, bringing total new education funding under Gov. Blunt's leadership to more than a half of a billion dollars
- $3.6 million increase for the A+ Schools Program
- $2.9 million increase to expand eMINTS which will provide technology to 100 additional classrooms in 100 different schools
- $2 million increase for Parents as Teachers Program
- $1 million for afterschool programs expansion with emphasis on math and science, as well as health and wellness
- $250,000 increase to assist students who take Advanced Placement tests in math and science
- $41.2 million increase for Missouri's public two and four year higher education institutions
- $20.4 million increase for state scholarship programs, which adds to the $25 million in new funding for scholarships in the Fiscal Year 07 supplemental budget, allowing additional students access to higher education and encouraging the state's top academic achievers to attend Missouri institutions
PUBLIC SAFETY
- $1.1 million increase to expand crime lab services in Springfield and Jasper County
- $1 million increase to provide grants to law enforcement agencies fighting child exploitation on the Internet
- $150,000 increase to support the INOBTR (I Know Better) Campaign that will provide Missourians with information about online predators with the use of innovative strategies to communicate with children and parents about the dangers that can be found on the Internet
- $150,000 increase to improve services for victims of domestic violence by expanding the statewide victim notification system to include orders of protection
HEALTH and WELLNESS
- $12.1 million increase to improve the quality of care being delivered to Missourians receiving in-home services
- $3.9 million increase for autism services to reduce waiting lists for diagnostic services, expand regional treatment services for children, and help develop an intensive day treatment pilot project
- $2.5 million increase to develop integrated home and community-based services for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families through the Circle of H.O.P.E. grant
- $1.3 million increase to implement the governor's community partnership to improve the services and safety for Bellefontaine Habilitation Center residents
- $760,000 for the Alternatives to Abortion Program
- $200,000 in new funding for the Alternatives to Abortion Program
- $500,000 increase to expand the number of breast and cervical cancer screenings through the Show Me Healthy Women Program
- $6.7 million increase to provide child care for working families who earn less than 127 percent of the federal poverty level. This funding ensures no qualified families will have to wait for child care
- $5.7 million increase to provide additional placements through the Adoption Subsidy and Subsidized Guardianship programs, which provide permanent homes for abused and neglected children
- $6.4 billion total funding for Medicaid that reflects $949.6 million in new funding, and includes:
- $129.4 million for Mo HealthNet that includes:
- $66.1 million for physician related rate increase
- $20.2 million increase for medical care for employed disabled clients
- $17.4 million to establish a health care home and provide an annual health risk assessment for Mo HealthNet recipients
- $13.2 million increase to make health care coverage affordable to uninsured lower-income Missourians
- $1.7 million increase to extend health care benefits to foster children until their 21st birthday
FARM FAMILIES and AGRICULTURE
- $21.5 million increase to the Missouri Qualified Biodiesel Producer Incentive Fund to honor obligations for biodiesel production payments
- $6.4 million increase to the Missouri Qualified Fuel Ethanol Producer Incentive Fund to honor obligations for ethanol producer payments
WORKERS, JOBS and ECONOMIC GROWTH
- $13.5 million for the Life Sciences Trust Fund for research capacity with a focus on animal health and nutrition and plant science, marking the first time since its inception the fund has received state dollars
- $403 million increase for road and bridge construction and maintenance
VETERANS
- $5 million increase to maintain services provided to veterans residing in veterans' homes
- $2.8 million increase for additional staff to allow homes to serve more veterans
- $1 million increase for increased medical costs at veterans' homes
- $543,721 increase to add Vietnam War veterans to those recognized by the state for their service to our country
The governor today signed House Bills 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17 and 18.
Blunt vetoed $155,760 in general revenue for parking expenses that, by statute, are the responsibility of county governments.
He also vetoed the words "Personal Service" from a section of House Bill 9. The veto was to correct a typographical error and ensures that the state may continue to provide substance abuse treatment for incarcerated offenders.
The state's Fiscal Year 2008 Budget governs state spending between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008.