Why It Matters
Missouri lawmakers are advancing more than 150 earmarks totaling $348.3 million in the state budget while declining to fully fund the school foundation formula, which requires $190 million in additional general revenue. The earmark spending includes $164.6 million from general revenue—nearly matching the unfunded education commitment—as state revenue growth remains sluggish and fund balances decline.
What Happened
The Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee added 19 earmarks to the capital construction budget last month, increasing total earmark spending by $87.2 million. Committee Chairman Rusty Black, a Chillicothe Republican, told colleagues the additions came from conversations with senators and the governor’s office but declined to publicly identify which lawmakers requested specific projects.
State Sen. Brian Williams, a University City Democrat, questioned Black for 25 minutes during floor debate about a dozen new spending items inserted into the Department of Social Services budget after the bill cleared committee. Black said the changes resulted from negotiations with senators and priorities identified by the governor’s office.
By the Numbers
The total state budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 will be approximately $51 billion, including building maintenance and construction. The general revenue portion will be about $16 billion. General revenue receipts are down 0.8% through April.
State fund balances have declined from a peak of nearly $5.8 billion in general revenue in June 2023 to $2.9 billion as of late April. Governor Mike Kehoe’s budget estimates only $265 million will remain in the general revenue fund by June 30, 2027.
The 19 earmarks added by the Senate committee range from $100,000 for a Dallas County government maintenance building to $15 million for a parking garage as part of a Jefferson City convention center.
Zoom Out
Missouri lawmakers have expanded earmark spending since 2022 as general revenue surpluses loosened budget constraints. The Independent tracked 275 earmarks in 2023 and more than 400 in 2024. Last year, 250 earmarks reached the governor’s desk; Kehoe vetoed 109, reduced funding for 23, and withheld funds from 23 others.
State Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, a Columbia Democrat, criticized the spending priorities. Lawmakers are spending the same amount of money on small projects that would be needed to fully fund the education foundation formula, which she called a constitutional budget priority.
What’s Next
The 16 appropriation bills must pass by Friday’s constitutional deadline. Earmarks are identifiable by language directing funds to specific locations or organizations, but none are publicly labeled with the requesting legislator’s name. The governor will review the final budget plan and determine which earmarks to approve, veto, or withhold.