From the $8,000 set aside so the Lone Jack Police Department could buy rifles to $46 million for an allied health building at St. Louis Community College, Gov. Mike Parson’s veto ax fell heavily on earmarked spending as he finished work on the coming year’s Missouri budget.
Parson announced his actions late Friday on the $51.8 billion budget approved by lawmakers in May, with only eight hours left before the start of the new fiscal year. In all, he made 201 vetoes, cutting $555.3 million by reducing some lines but more often eliminating items entirely.
In almost every veto, Parson cited the need to maintain the state’s strong financial position. There is a tax cut bill that would reduce revenue by $300 million awaiting action, the vetoes state, and the overall budget increases annual general revenue spending by $200 million.