Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick issued a warning last week about Missouri’s upcoming budget crisis, and Governor Mike Kehoe says he agrees.
What We Know: Fitzpatrick has watched and warned of the “critically low” funds in the Missouri state budget since December.
Lawmakers cut nearly $375 million from the general revenue budget, but that isn’t enough, says Fitzpatrick’s office. The state is now on track for a more than $1.7 billion deficit for fiscal year 2027.
What They’re Saying: In a press release, Fitzpatrick stated, “The numbers are right there in black and white, and unfortunately lots of red, and they show a trend of deficit spending that cannot be sustained and that continues to jeopardize our state’s financial health.”
When asked about Fitzpatrick’s warning, Governor Kehoe said, “We don’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem.”
COVID-19 related funding inflated the budget earlier in the decade, but now that money has dried up and the state can no longer sustain that level of spending.
“In the last five years, we’ve added … over 3420 items to our budget, at a cost of over $12.7 billion,” Kehoe said, “We’re going to have to rein that back so that we can do the right thing for Missourians.”
What It Means: The governor’s office is currently reviewing the budget the General Assembly approved and sent last month. With the situation being what it is, Kehoe has said that cuts may be necessary.
Fitzpatrick says that drastic emergency cuts will become necessary is nothing is done.
“I’m confident Governor Kehoe will take the appropriate actions to get our budget back on track and there is no doubt he is more than justified in using whatever means necessary to bring state spending in line with ongoing revenue.”
(Photo courtesy of Visit Jefferson City)