Budget money to help Columbia Public Schools

Governor Nixon released nearly $70 million from this year’s budget Wednesday afternoon.

The finance committee for Columbia Public Schools met Wednesday and learned $1.8 million of that will go to CPS.

Officials with the committee said the money will not be used for anything new, but go toward things the district already had in the works because it planned to spend more than was being brought in.

The committee said it’s grateful for the release of the restricted funds, but committee members also said they’re still concerned for the future because Nixon withholds money every year.

The money released Wednesday was restricted last year to balance the budget.

Of that money released by the Governor, $10 million will go toward transportation for schools across the state.

Another $15 million will go toward college scholarships and matching funds for projects at public universities.