Midwest Voices

Barb Shelly

The Kansas City Star

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon’s intention to add $40 million for higher education in his proposed 2013 budget at least signals he understands the state’s colleges and universities are struggling.

The $40 million is “found” money. It comes from a legal settlementwith the nation’s largest mortgage banks. State attorneys general, including Missouri’s Chris Koster, sued the banks for rubber-stsamping paperwork involved in foreclosures.

The $40 million that Nixon intends to add to the higher education budget will help, but remember that his initial budget plan took $106 million from colleges and universities — a 12.5 percent cut to the already underfunded institutions. A one-time, partial reprieve won’t really solve the problem.

The issue is that Missouri hasn’t found enough funds in years to enable its universities and colleges to repair their buildings and invest in their faculties and staffs. The schools desperately need a dedicated source of new revenue. The best thing Nixon or any politician could do to help is to get behind an initiative petition for a 90-cent increase in Missouri’s cigarette tax. Of an expected $283 million raised annually, 30 percent would be earmarked for higher education.

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