Politics
(2009-10-28)
JEFFERSON CITY, MO
(KBIA) -
Governor Jay Nixon is cutting nearly 204 million dollars from Missouri's current state budget, as state revenues continue to decline. Almost 700 state jobs are being eliminated, nearly 500 of which are part-time.
The cuts also include 20 million dollars for maintaining state buildings. About half of the budgets for arts, humanities and public broadcasting are being cut, as well as nearly the entire budget of the Life Sciences Research Board.
Linda Luebbering is the governor's Budget Director:
"The budget situation this time is above and beyond (what) the state has experienced in decades this is the worst I have ever seen, and I have worked in state budgeting for probably about 20 years, so it is challenging."
There are no reductions to K-through-12 school funding, or to higher education. But, Missouri's online school program lost funding for its second semester.
The governor says the cuts don't include reductions to crucial public safety needs:
"We will not be shutting down a prison, or eliminating Highway Patrol Troopers from our roads or Water Patrol officers from our waterways."
There will be no reductions in Medicaid eligibility. But there will be reductions in Medicaid payments to some health care providers. Also, the state will stop taking new non-Medicaid clients for certain mental health services.
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