“Putting people first” was the theme of Gov. Mike Parson’s State of the State address on Wednesday. His annual speech to the state legislature marks the final one as Missouri’s 57th governor.
“In every decision, we must put people first. Easy said, but hard to do. It’s a simple idea that has been our guiding principle since the very beginning. And that’s our final commitment to you. Until our final day, we will continue to put people first,” said Parson.
Parson’s speech began by peering in the rearview mirror with a focus on his and his administration’s legacy. In it, he highlighted protecting second amendment rights, reducing the number of elective abortions annually, reducing the size of government, and supporting state workers with pay increases and better retirement savings.
He touted one of his priorities – improving Missouri’s infrastructure.
“Under our administration, we have repaired or replaced over 1,000 bridges across our state. We have repaired nearly 17,000 miles of Missouri roadway in five short years. That’s about 50% of all Missouri’s entire highway system that has been replaced or repaired,” said Parson.
The Show-Me State is on tap to receive more than $90 million in an infrastructure grant to help support the Improve I-70 project announced in last year’s State of the State address.
“Under our administration and this general assembly and the leadership of (Sen.) Lincoln Hough, decades of inaction has turned into action and this summer, construction on I-70 is set to begin in Columbia and from there, let’s just say, there is no turning back,” the governor said.
The governor also rolled out his fiscal Year 2025 recommended operating budget. His proposal totals $52 billion with much of that budget outline being made up of Social Services and K-12 public education.
Missouri has one of the lowest starting teacher salaries in the country. Parson wants a $4 million increase in state funding to boost minimum K-12 public school teacher pay to $40,000 annually.
“This represents a $15,000 increase for teacher pay during our administration,” said Parson. “We’re also recommending $6 million for Career Ladder. Together, these programs have benefited tens of thousands of teachers in every corner across our state.”
Career Ladder is a program that pays teachers for extra work, such as tutoring and after school activities.
To help Missouri dig out of a childcare access hole, the governor’s budget proposal requests $52 million to boost childcare subsidy rates.
Parson’s budget wish list contains a 3.2% pay increase for Missouri 47,000 state employees. He’s requesting an additional 1% pay increase for every two years of continuous employment for eligible employees working in certain congregate care services, capped at 10%.
“When I became governor, state government was quickly becoming underappreciated, understaffed and underpaid. That’s why we approved three historic pay increases to recruit, and retain quality talent across state government, raising team member pay by over 20% since 2018,” he said Wednesday. “Let me just say, the investment in our state employees have been worth every penny.”
Parson is proposing $93 million to improve Missouri’s low-volume rural roads.
He also wants to establish a fund to improve I-44, which will supplement the nearly $150 million already budgeted for expansion studies that look at ways to improve safety and congestion along the widely traveled interstate.
On youth apprenticeships, Parson is requesting another $3 million to support more opportunities.
“As you can see, these targeted investments truly make a difference in the lives of Missourians. Thanks to our past efforts, I’m proud to report that Missouri is ranked 2nd in the United States of America for apprenticeship and that’s something we should all be proud of,” he said.
Also on workforce development, Parson wants to help solidify Missouri’s status as a top manufacturing state by asking for $10 million for advanced semiconductor research, development, and skills training, as well as nearly $7 million to support critical mineral development.
“Missouri ranks 4th in the nation for new manufacturing when it comes to semiconductors and critical minerals. We can lead and we will lead to ensure we never have to rely on nations like China again,” the governor said.
Other highlights of the governor’s budget proposal include:
*$3.7 billion in state aid for K-12 public schools – $121 million increase
*$1.12 billion in core funding for higher education – $32.5 million increase
*$361.4 million in K-12 school transportation funding – $14 million increase
*$14.2 million to support opioid addiction prevention services, treatment, and recovery
*$10 million to address behavioral health and health care staffing shortages
*$5.6 million to address long-term care staffing shortages
*$5.2 million to help improve Missouri River flood resiliency
*$3.5 million to create an ag resiliency fund to help agriculture producers and landowners with recovery from and preparation for natural disasters, including drought and flooding
*$1.5 million to address veteran homelessness through the Veterans Community Project in Kansas City and St. Louis
*$182,000 to create a new program for the approval and ongoing regulation of foreign ownership of land
His speech to the general assembly concluded on a note of gratitude by telling onlookers the honor he has had serving as the 57th Governor of Missouri.
The Missouri Legislature will get to work on the governor’s state budget proposal and decide what lawmakers support.
Click here and here to view the FY2025 budget.
By Anthony Morabith and Alisa Nelson
Copyright 2024, Missourinet.