JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens proposed another round of cuts to public colleges and universities Monday during a budget announcement that also marked his first public appearance since acknowledging an extramarital affair two weeks ago.
While unveiling a recommended $28.8-billion budget for the fiscal year that begins in July, the Republican governor said increased spending on health care “means we have to tighten up in other areas of government and spend less money.” He cited growth in administrative costs at many universities while recommending a 10-percent reduction compared to the amount that higher education institutions originally were budgeted to get during the current year.
Greitens described his annual spending plan as a “common-sense conservative budget.”
“We’re watching out for the tax dollars of the people of Missouri, making important investments in Missouri’s future and also making the tough choices that are necessary to make sure that we don’t burden Missouri’s children with debt,” he said.
But Greitens faced immediate pushback from some lawmakers over the proposed cuts to higher education institutions. His 2019 budget plan would give colleges and universities $92 million less than originally budgeted for the 2018 fiscal year and $68 million less than they are expected to get based on cuts Greitens previously made to the 2018 budget.
“We cannot continue to balance the budget on the backs of students; they are the future workers and job creators Missouri desperately needs to cultivate,” Columbia Republican Sen. Caleb Rowden said in a statement, adding he hopes to pass a budget that “better reflects Missourians’ priorities.”
Missouri’s Medicaid program would grow to $11 billion under Greitens’ budget — largely, Greitens said, because of federally mandated services.
