FULTON, Mo. — Gov. Jay Nixon told a group of state employees and reporters today that he plans on recommending a strategic bond issuance for a brand-new facility at Fulton State Hospital, Missouri’s sole maximum security psychiatric facility and the oldest such hospital west of the Mississippi.
Nixon has released the remaining funds for the planning portion of the project, which could take up to 18 months to design a new facility. Nixon said he was looking for an appropriations bond, which can be passed by the Missouri legislature, rather than folding the project into the almost $1 billion general obligation bond the statehouse has been attempting to pass for five years. General obligation bonds must be approved by a vote of the people.
“I’d like to see this issue handled on its own and not get caught up in the complex mis-mash of the regular session,” Nixon says. “I think the ability and the need are both very clear on this issue, and I’d like to see it handled separately.”
For several years Missouri lawmakers have fought over a bonding bill for numerous state projects, with proponents pointing to historically low interest rates and Missouri’s exceptional credit rating. Opponents arguing for fiscal discipline say it is irresponsible for the state to adopt new debt before retiring all existing debt.
The general obligation bond debated in the Capitol would have to be approved by the people, but an appropriations bond like the one Nixon called for needs only approval from the legislature. And while approval is no small task, Nixon says there is precedence. Both the Truman State Office Building and the correctional facility at Bonne Terre were funded through appropriations bonds.
The project is estimated to cost $211 million and, once planning is complete, up to 5 years to complete construction. Fulton State Hospital is considered the most dangerous workplace in Missouri for state employees, as it accounts for nearly half of all workers compensation claims.
Collin Reischman was the Managing Editor for The Missouri Times, and a graduate of Webster University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
