The Missouri House approved a mid-year adjustment to the state’s $50 billion spending plan, adding funds to keep a senior meals program operating and boosting funding for education. The meals program benefits Texas County residents.
On a bipartisan 150-2 vote, the supplement budget proposal of $1.9 billion is smaller than what Gov. Mike Kehoe had recommended in January, primarily because state agencies crunched numbers to narrow the scope of their requests.
“We got better numbers from some of the departments,” said House Budget Chairman Dirk Deaton, R-Noel.
Passage of the measure in the House sends the package to the Senate, which is expected to put the legislation on a fast track in order to keep Area Agency on Aging meals programs afloat before money runs out at the end of the month. In this area, the funding will aid Senior Age, which provides funding for most senior centers in the county.
“We need to get these dollars out the door as quickly as possible,” said Rep. Betsy Fogle, D-Springfield, the ranking minority member of the budget panel.
The package includes money to make sure public schools receive their full allocation under the state’s foundation formula. Summer food programs would receive $103 million, and the Department of Mental Health would receive funding to eliminate waiting lists for developmental disability and behavioral health services.
Also included is $100 million for wastewater treatment plant loans for cities and towns through a program administered by the Department of Natural Resources.
The senior meals program was in the crosshairs after the Missouri Area Agencies on Aging said it could run out of money for the months of April, May and June.
Each year, the program provides food, rides and other services, including 7.5 million meals to 250,000 individuals around the state.
Under the program, a person must be 60 or disabled to receive a free mid-day meal.
If a person is not on Medicaid, they are asked for a contribution to help offset costs, but it is not a requirement to receive the service.
Action by lawmakers would funnel $14 million to the program.