For more information: Traci Gleason, Director of Communications, 816-872-8133
For Immediate Release: June 24, 2014
Today’s Budget Restrictions are Just the Beginning
Statement from Traci Gleason, Director of Communications
Governor Nixon today announced spending restrictions for the fiscal year 2015 budget, which begins on July 1st. Unfortunately, it’s just the beginning of reduced funding available for education and other critical services as a result of massive tax cuts passed by lawmakers this session.
The legislature’s last minute tax cut spree will cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars per year, just in general revenue. But that’s on top of SB 509’s tax cuts, which will cost more than $800 million per year when fully implemented. As a result, more than $1 billion per year will be cut from critical state services like education, health, and social services.
Missourians deserve a quality education system and safe, stable communities. While today’s budget withholds are painful, the legislature’s ill-conceived tax cuts will leave these critical services competing for budget crumbs far into the future, devastating Missouri’s quality of life and ability to compete for 21st century jobs.
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The Missouri Budget Project is a nonprofit public policy analysis organization that analyzes state budget, tax, and economic issues.
