Revenue collections continue ahead of predictions

Measured by state revenue collections, Missouri’s economy continue to grow at a healthy pace.

The State Budget Office this week released a report that showed Missouri tax collections are up 7.7 percent over last year. April’s revenue collections were particularly healthy, showing an 11.9 percent growth over April of last year. Individual income tax collections grew 15.4 percent last month, bringing the total collections this year up 8.5 percent.

The healthy collections figures come as a surprise to Nixon administration officials who had predicted a 4.6 percent budget growth in the current fiscal year.

According to the Budget Office release, due to the increase in collections, the state was able to repay the $400 million borrowed from the Budget Reserve Fund during fiscal year 2015, well ahead of the Constitutional deadline of May 15th.

Governor Nixon also sighted the collections growth as he announced the release of $67,378,816 for early childhood education, college scholarships, workforce training and other priority investments.

“We are pleased the Governor finally released these withheld funds so they may be used before the end of the state fiscal year on June 30,” said Ray McCarty, president of Associated Industries of Missouri. “The Governor’s previous withholding had affected job training funds as well as many other areas of state government.”

The itemized list of money restored to budgeted programs follows:

·         Missouri Preschool Program – $1,563,959

·         Parents as Teachers – $1,000,000

·         K-12 transportation – $10,000,000

·         Urban Teaching Program – $1,000,000

·         School Board Training – $156,326

·         Bright Futures Program – $150,000

·         Playground at Verelle Peniston State School – $25,000

·         St. Louis Public Schools transportation – $375,000

·         Missouri Charter Public School Commission – $100,000

·         Character education initiatives at K-12 schools – $10,000

·         Access Missouri Scholarship Program – $11,000,000

·         Bright Flight Scholarship Program – $4,000,000

·         Scholars & Fine Arts Academies – $750,000

·         University of Missouri-St. Louis – College of Business Administration Bldg – $10,000,000

·         Missouri Southern State University – Science Labs in Reynolds Hall – $1,500,000

·         Missouri State University – Admissions Center – $2,250,000

·         Northwest Missouri State University – Agriculture Learning Center – $250,000

·         Southeast Missouri State University – Memorial Hall – $2,000,000

·         Missouri Works Training – $4,000,000

·         Certified Work Ready Communities – $200,000

·         Missouri Technology Corporation – $2,210,000

·         Regional Planning Commissions – $100,000

·         Missouri Department of Tourism – $1,250,000

·         Public Transit Funds – $1,000,000

·         Department of Mental Health for ADA Treatment for Ex-Offenders – $500,000

·         Department of Mental Health – operational support $101,453

·         Reimbursements to local communities for jail costs – $1,756,552

·         Department of Public Safety to upgrade the Automated Fingerprint Identification System – $500,000

·         Department of Public Safety for forensic exams in child abuse cases – $1,452,000

·         Department of Corrections for Substance Abuse Services – $363,279

·         Department of Public Safety for Drug and Crime Control Division Vehicles – $300,000

·         Missouri State Highway Patrol for the replacement of breathing equipment – $19,600

·         Rural Crimes Task Forces – $290,000

·         National Guard Veterans Records – $30,000

·         Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities – $200,000

·         Alzheimer’s Grants – $125,000

·         Commission for the Deaf – $104,000

·         Division of Youth Services Facilities – $100,000

·         State Milk Board – $52,222

·         Office of Child Advocate – $100,000

·         Centers for Independent Living for services for Missourians with disabilities – $455,000

·         Eating Disorder Council – $39,425

·         Alternatives to Abortion Services – $1,000,000

·         Maintenance and repair at state facilities – $5,000,000