JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Rep. Tom Flanigan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, released the following statement regarding funding for the Edward Jones Dome in the FY 2017 budget:
“Members of the Budget Committee and House leadership have been hesitant to move forward with a spending plan that includes funding for the Edward Jones Dome without first receiving an assurance from the governor that he will not use state funds for other purposes such as a new soccer stadium. As a result, the spending plan approved by our appropriations committee did not include funding for either the $10 million debt payment or the $2 million maintenance payment.
However, we have now received assurances from both the governor and his staff that, if appropriated, the funds will be utilized only for the purposes of debt payment and maintenance for the dome. These assurances combined with the restrictive language we plan to add in HB 2005 have prompted us to now move forward with the full $12 million in appropriations for debt payment and maintenance. The governor has repeatedly said that Missouri pays its bills, and we are trusting that he will honor that commitment by utilizing these funds to pay the debt and maintenance on the Edward Jones Dome rather than try to work around the legislature to finance a new soccer stadium.”
