Schools Face Tough Times After Recent Budget Cuts (MO)

June 21, 2010

Organizations and agencies funded by the state are still assessing the fallout from the latest round of budget cuts.

Without a doubt, education is the biggest loser in the latest round of cuts. Gov. Jay Nixon completely eliminated a program that subsidizes internet access in schools. And he sliced tens of millions from school bus funding.

Like most rural superintendents, Russellville’s Jerry Hobbs depends heavily on state funds. The cuts mean no new school bus this fall to replace one of the aging units in his fleet.

"We’re probably gonna go from 93,000 to around 45,000 to 50,000 dollars," Hobbs said.

The reduced funding from the state barely covers the $255,000 a year needed to run buses during the year.

“It still costs us to run the buses,” Hobbs said. “We still have to haul the kids.”

"Restricting these funds was not an easy call,” Nixon said at Thursday’s budget cut announcement. “But it will allow us to preserve full funding for K-12 classrooms.”

True, but some small districts likely will have to use classroom money to provide bus service, which is required by law.

The tightening money situation did not allow the governor to protect most new programs.

One exception is an $8.3 million appropriation for a comprehensive smoking cessation program in Medicaid moms. The administration said that’s a smart hedge against future costs.

"Low birth weight babies are very expensive in the Medicaid program,” State Budget Director Linda Luebbering said. “So we believe b y providing this funding we’ll save at least as much in the Medicaid program.”

It’s the kind of choice people like Hobbs can appreciate, but not without wincing.

"I feel sorry for the governor and the legislature as they have to try to make those cuts,” Hobbs said. “I know it’s difficult. I know it’s necessary. But it also puts us in a difficult position too.”

College Administrators are also bemoaning the cuts to the state’s scholarship programs.

However, by doing that, the administration was able to honor its deal with tax supported institutions not to cut their budgets severely.

In return, they will honor their joint pledge not to increase tuition.