Missouri’s state budget negotiations have wrapped up

Missouri state budget negotiators have wrapped up their work. 

Missouri state budget negotiators have agreed to back the Senate’s 2.8-billion-dollar plan to widen I-70 to three lanes in both directions from Blue Springs near Kansas City to Wentzville near St. Louis. 

Other budget negotiations include a seven-percent increase in core funding for the state’s public colleges and universities and 4.5-million to fully restore state funding to Missouri’s public libraries. 

The panel of lawmakers agreed on the governor’s request to add 56-million for pre-kindergarten programs and 81-million to boost childcare subsidies. 

The plan would also add 100 Children’s Division workers to help prevent children from entering the foster care system. 

Friday is the deadline for lawmakers to pass a balanced state budget.

The overall price tag of the spending plan is about 50-billion-dollars.