Thursday, March 22, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Signs Budget Bill to Benefit Missouri Students, Economy, Safety, Families and Agriculture
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today signed the supplemental budget bill to fund schools, scholarships, ethanol production, adoption tax credits, newborn screenings, agriculture grants, safety priorities and several other important state programs.
"From ethanol incentives to scholarships and from public safety initiatives to school funding, I am pleased to sign this important bill that benefits Missourians in all corners of the state," Blunt said. "In the last two years we have worked to turn a $1.1 billion deficit into a nearly $300 million surplus without increasing taxes on Missouri's hard working families. The same responsible budget policies that allowed us to overcome the deficit allow us to invest in these important programs."
House Bill 14 authorizes the supplemental appropriations for the current fiscal year, 2007. In total the bill appropriates $122,044,706 including:
- $38.7 million additional funds for public schools.
- $8.7 million to purchase antivirals to be used in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak.
- $6.6 million for staff at Bellefontaine Habilitation Center, for training and community transition efforts.
- $5.1 million to fully fund ethanol producer incentives.
- $1.3 million for the Department of Mental Health to operate an additional ward at the Fulton State Hospital.
- $1 million to allow the Department of Health and Senior Services to expand newborn screening and begin screening for cystic fibrosis.
- $850,000 for study and design of a statewide interoperable radio system.
- $500,000 for special needs adoption tax credits.
- $500,000 for competitive odor abatement grants to agricultural operations.
- $372,000 to provide full funding for all students eligible for "Bright Flight" higher education scholarships.
- $273,754 to begin the Vietnam Veterans' Recognition Program.