Missouri Budget

Gov. Mike Kehoe is proposing to cut funding for transportation from $6.7 million to $1.7 million, an 85% decrease. Missouri is already one of the lowest states for per capita spending on public transit.

Gov. Mike Kehoe cut funding for public transportation last year. In January, he proposed eliminating another $5 million from the public transit budget.

One of the changes made on the Senate side includes removing almost $15 million toward improving the Missouri Capitol. Now the legislation returns to the Missouri House for a vote.

More than 1,000 Missourians traveled to the Capitol to attend Disability Rights Legislative Day. Lawmakers from both chambers have said they will try to restore $80.7 million in cuts proposed by Gov. Mike Kehoe.

The proposed cuts came out of a "core reduction exercise" requested by Gov. Mike Kehoe. Lawmakers from both parties vowed to undo the reductions but warned the governor could still veto any restoration.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has proposed deep cuts to art funding across the state as part of an austerity initiative emphasizing smaller government and fiscal discipline. Artists and arts advocates say their cultural contributions help drive economic investment.

Critics say the mission of the foundation is vague, leaving questions about how taxpayer dollars will be used. Half the funding for the foundation draws from the state's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, or TANF.

Missouri arts and humanities leaders say Gov. Mike Kehoe's proposed budget for the arts would hurt programs across the state — including festivals, performances and museums like the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City.

If Missouri lawmakers agree to all of Kehoe’s proposed supplemental spending, that would represent a year-to-year cut of about $600 million. The future revenue picture is also clouded by the governor's efforts to eliminate the state income tax.

In his 2026 State of the State address, Gov. Mike Kehoe said he wants a statewide vote in November on his plan to phase out the state income tax and allow for taxes on things like monthly subscriptions and digital services. Democrats have questioned whether that's possible without wrecking future budgets.

Missouri lawmakers arrive in Jefferson City on Wednesday for the start of the 2026 legislative session, which runs until mid-May. Gov. Mike Kehoe is pushing to eliminate the state income tax, but a smaller budget will likely force spending cuts.

Missouri lawmakers have passed historically expensive budgets in recent years, but next year will likely be different, according to Missouri state Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Democrat from Kansas City. The state's revenue has flatlined when adjusted for inflation, and there is no more surplus of federal money. Nurrenbern said that math means Missouri won't be able to fund all the services it has in prior years.