Missouri is projected to take in less than hoped in back taxes from the amnesty period that ended November 30.

Governor Jay Nixon

Governor Jay Nixon

The state gave those who owed back taxes three months to pay them back. About $60-million was owed – about $35-million is now expected. Budget drafters planned on $40-million to expand dental care and increase how much Medicaid pays health care providers.

Governor Nixon says lots of Missourians will still be helped.

“We were able to expand access to dental care to an estimated 282-thousand low-income Missourians this year,” said Nixon. “These funds will also allow for a one-percent increase in funding for Medicaid providers, including those who care for Missourians with developmental disabilities.”

Nixon urged lawmakers to find a way to fund those needs in future budgets.

“These kinds of services are simply too critical to be put at risk by funding them with one-time sources of revenue,” said Nixon.

He’ll propose his to the legislature January 20.