Passing a Balanced Budget
During the legislative session, we spend a lot of time on bills. Filing bills, debating bills, voting on bills, passing bills, all to get our legislative priorities enacted into law. While there is a great deal of time spent on moving bills through the legislative process during session, the reality is the Missouri General Assembly has only one constitutional-required duty to complete before the end of the session: passing a balanced budget.
This week, the Missouri Senate did just that. The $29.7 billion state operating budget passed by the Senate provides funding for key state functions, departments and programs for the upcoming fiscal year, running from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020.
Legislators work hard to ensure this budget accurately reflects the priorities of the state and responsibly handles taxpayer dollars. With that in mind, I would like to discuss one of the major allocations in our version of the state’s spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year.
The budget approved by the Missouri Senate provides a three percent pay increase for all state workers, beginning Jan. 1, 2020. Missouri workers are the lowest paid in the country on average, and it’s time we worked to remedy that. I believe this funding shows that state workers are a priority, and that the state Legislature is serious about supporting these hardworking employees who do so much for our state. These employees provide important services for our communities and our citizens, and we are incredibly thankful for their service to our state. I believe these employees have earned a raise, and I am glad to support a budget that reflects that priority.
Much of the budget has been locked in for the upcoming fiscal year, but some line items remain to be settled between the House of Representatives and Senate versions of the budget. If the Missouri House does not accept the changes proposed by the Senate, the two bodies will meet in a conference committee to work toward a funding compromise before approving the final version of the Fiscal Year 2020 state budget and sending it to the governor’s desk for his consideration.
Additionally, I am happy to report that the Missouri General Assembly has truly agreed to and finally passed House Bill 898. This is legislation that I had the privilege to handle in the Missouri Senate. This bill creates a “Back the Blue” license plate which will be available for a $10 contribution to the Missouri Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation and a $15 fee, in addition to normal registration costs. The design of the “Back the Blue” license plate is yet to be decided. I believe HB 898 will send a clear message that we support our law enforcement officers who do so much to keep our communities safe. House Bill 898 now heads to the governor’s desk to be signed into law in the near future.
Please feel free to contact my office at (573) 751-2076. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Bernskoetter.