As I noted in a Clif’s Notes from a few weeks ago, the Missouri Legislature is in session. There are many proposed bills out there that we’re keeping an eye on. However, much of our attention is now trained on the fiscal year 2025 budget proposal and machinations.
It’s still early in the session, so we’re far from knowing what the final budget will be, but I can share with you the proposed budget Gov. Mike Parson presented on Jan. 24 in his State of the State address and the work we’re doing behind the scenes.
He recommended:
- A 3% increase in public college and university operating budgets, which would be a $3.3 million increase for Missouri State.
- Capital improvements at public colleges and universities totaling $314.7 million, including $17.5 million funding for the Judith Enyeart Reynolds Complex (replacing the Art Annex and renovating Craig Hall).
- $54.4 million in MoExcels funding, which will fund all the projects on the Coordinating Board’s list of recommended projects, including $1.6 million for the next phase of Kampeter Hall renovation and $815,000 for the West Plains campus to help establish vet tech and vet assistant programs.
The next step in the process is for the House of Representatives’ Budget Committee to consider the governor’s recommendations. The committee’s recommendations often align with the governor’s for the most part – although every year is a little different. The governor left $1.5 billion on the bottom line, so there’s a lot of room for the House and/or Senate to expand on the governor’s recommendations.
During this legislative process, our team will work to increase the operating appropriations to something above the 3% the governor recommended. We’ll also work with our partners to obtain one-time funding to build out Cox North, which will house the Healthcare Alliance. No funding for that project was contained in the governor’s proposed budget.
Our MOSERS’s payment looks like it will increase by $1.7 million this year, which cuts the 3% increase from the governor in half. So, we’ll also be working with our legislators to see if we can come up with a plan for long-term relief from MOSERS’s annual increases.
We know there will be much more to come between now and the end of May when the budget is approved. I’ll keep you updated.
President search
Our first candidate, Dr. Richard “Biff” Williams, will be on campus this Wednesday and Thursday. The public forum will take place from 2:30-3:30 p.m. on Thursday in the PSU Theater. You can also participate via Zoom.
President’s Day is Monday. I hope everyone enjoys the day off!
Thanks for all you do for Missouri State.
Clif