With the budget finalized and session over, I wanted to share with you some of the budget items I fought to include in the budget this year. I believe each of these items will help improve our district and elevate our communities.
I am a firm believer in working to cut as much wasteful government spending as possible, while also continuing to support funding for necessary projects that make Missouri, and specifically District 33, the best place to live, work and grow a business.
Students in our slice of Missouri are filled with promise and I believe our educational institutions can help them fulfill their potential. I have helped ensure schools in our district receive the funding they need to run properly and continue to improve.
In addition, we have some of the most beautiful parks and land in Missouri and I believe maintaining them is important. People from across the country come to our district specifically for the outdoor recreational offerings we have. There is money in the budget to support and maintain these important offerings for folks to enjoy both now, and in the future.
Funds for needed road work in the district have also been included to make sure travel around the area is as smooth as possible.
Finally, a portion of state funds have been set aside for hospital improvements and operations, including Ozark Healthcare in West Plains and Mercy Hospital in Mountain View.
Helping fund projects in District 33 is a top priority of mine and I am glad the general assembly was able to do that while staying within the constitutionally mandated budget. It is never possible to fund every necessary project in one session, so if you see a project that we need to tackle next year, let our office know.
If you want to see each of the budget items for the district, each item is listed below in a full budget breakdown. As always, it is a pleasure to serve you. If my office can ever do anything for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Education
- Ozark Horizon State School for the Severely Disabled – $1.15 million
- Houston R-1 Track – $1.5 million
- Ozarks Technical Community College – $23.78 million
- Missouri State University West Plains – $8.16 million
- Missouri University of Science & Technology – Project Lead the Way Initiative – $250,000
- Missouri State University – West Plains Autism Center – $1 million
- Willow Springs Career Tech Education – $500,000
Road Improvements
- Highway 76 West Improvements in Branson – $4 million
- Shafer Road Improvements – $2 million
- Road Improvements near Branson Airport – $2 million
- Road Improvements near Kirbyville School – $350,000
State Parks
- Bryant Creek State Park – $177,810
- Current River State Park – $144,381
- Echo Bluff State Park – $746,353
- Roger Pryor Back Country – $9,086
- Shepherd of the Hills State Park – $170,808
- Table Rock State Park – $663,510
Health care
- Ozark Healthcare (West Plains) – $2 million
- Mercy Hospital (Mountain View) – $1.5 million
Miscellaneous
- Provalus Project – $2.5 million
- South Central Correctional Center – $21.4 million
- Division of Youth Service Facilities – $1.5 million
- Circuit Judge, Court Reporter, & Treatment Court Commissioner – 25th Circuit – $428,956
- 76 Entertainment Community Improvement District – $6.2 million
- Cabool YMCA – Renovations and Improvements – $2 million