Missouri governor signs off on I-70 expansion and $52B state budget

By SUMMER BALLENTINE
Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has approved a close to $52 billion state budget that includes billions in funding to expand Interstate 70 across the state. But the Republican governor on Friday also pared back spending by close to $555 million compared to what lawmakers passed in May. The budget includes $2.8 billion to expand I-70 to three lanes. There’s also $78 million for childcare subsidies, and another $56 million to expand access to pre-K programs. Missouri’s public school teachers will get a minimum $38,000 salary with upped funding in the budget.