Nixon releases education funds, none for MSU

After withholding $57.2 million from the state budget last month, Gov. Jay Nixon released $12.1 million yesterday for fiscal 2017. The bulk – $9 million – goes toward education, but none is earmarked for Missouri State University, which lost funding via the withholdings.

The governor released $6 million to fund Missouri’s K-12 foundation formula and $3 million for school transportation. No money was allotted for higher education.

The move comes days after Nixon responded to 13 veto overrides in the legislature by cutting $1.9 million of the $5 million allotted for MSU’s Glass Hall addition and renovation. University officials have said they intend to modify plans to the $33.8 million project on the Springfield campus. However, President Clif Smart believes there could be a chance Nixon will release the funds.

“No release yet but we remain hopeful,” he said via email in response to the recent K-12 news.

Nixon cited an economic boost for the Show-Me State as the impetus for the move. The State Budget Office announed Tuesday net general revenue collections in Missouri increased 5.8 percent in September, according to the release.

“Public education has always been a top priority for Missourians, and the continued solid growth of our economy is making it possible to put this funding into our schools,” Nixon said in the release. “We continue to provide record funding for our classrooms, and I’m pleased to have this money go to our public schools.”

In addition to the education funding, Nixon released:
    •    $400,000 for the University of Missouri-Kansas City Neighborhood Initiative to train and work with local leaders in Kansas City to revitalize 18 urban neighborhoods;
    •    $1 million for federally qualified health centers around the state enabling them to draw down increased federal funding; and
    •    $1.7 million for the Sullivan County Lake Project to complete a land acquisition and leverage significant federal funds and support for the project.