Missouri Budget

The budget bill that includes grants to pay for teacher raises will only cover the next school year, are optional and require the districts to pay for part of the raise.

The budget includes raising the minimum pay for teachers, fully funding the state’s Medicaid program, including its expansion population, and income tax credits, as well as close to $3 billion in federal funding for projects across the state.

The budget includes millions for both starting and existing teacher salaries and school transportation as well as investments across the state.

The Senate version outspends the budget passed by the House weeks ago by more than $1 billion. Additionally, the Senate has yet to address how to allocate federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Despite passing a more than $46.5 billion budget, the House left about $1.8 billion in general revenue unspent. Senate leaders have indicated they plan to spend at least some of that leftover money.

Plans for using stimulus funds also include community development, campus construction projects.

The Democrat, who represents part of St. Louis, spoke on what he believes is a more fractious than usual legislature. He also delved into the Missouri budget, including the Senate’s decision to fully restore funding for state employee raises.

The Democrat from St. Louis County spoke on continued tensions in the Senate, which have spilled over into multiple days of debate about Missouri’s congressional redistricting.

The Missouri House also passed a resolution that makes several changes to the state’s initiative petition process. It would make it tougher for proposed amendments to the state’s constitution to make it on the ballot and for voters to pass them.

The emergency supplemental budget also includes almost $2 billion in federal money for schools and funding for Missouri’s Medicaid program.