Special legislative session costs more than $126,000 for just the Missouri House
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
During the 2022 special legislative session -- which lasted from Sept. 14-Oct. 4 -- the Missouri House of Representatives spent $126,706.80 in taxpayer money. ABC 17 News requested the same information from the Missouri Senate but did not receive it.
Gov. Mike Parson called the special session to address income tax cuts and extend agricultural tax credits. Parson signed both bills Oct. 5.
The personal income tax cut bill signed into law has an economic impact of $1 million. The most immediate impact will be felt in January 2023, when the top rate will drop from 5.3% to 4.95%. Parson said in a news release that most residents will get about a 5% reduction in their tax burden.
The agricultural tax credits bill -- which extends the credits for six more years -- has an economic impact of $40 million. That's how much money is taken out of the state budget and put back into taxpayers' pockets.
In fiscal year 2022, $1,302,451.21 was invested into the meat processing facility tax credit, according to the state accountability portal. About $2 million of the credit is available each year, according to the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The credit is equal to 25% of the amount spent for modernization and expansion, and is capped at $75,000 per year per taxpayer.
When he signed the bills into law, Parson claimed they will promote economic growth.
"This historic tax cut means more money for Missourians to spend, invest, and save. It means economic growth, business expansions, and good-paying jobs for Missourians both today and tomorrow," Parson said.
Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) said the special session was a waste of taxpayer money. Smith said the money spent on the House would be better spent on education.
"Our teachers are paid at the bottom rung nationally, and there's no reason for that," Smith said. "So, why are we spending $100,000 additionally on top of a tax cut to do this."
A $21 million bill was passed to raise the base teacher pay to $34,000 in Missouri. Even with that raise, Missouri still has one of the lowest starting-teacher salaries in the country, according to the National Educators Association.
The money spent on the House is more than Missouri spent on tutoring and educational enrichment for low-income students ($50,000), Excellence in Education Fund ($34,272) and school board training for rural districts ($25,000) combined in the fiscal year 2022 state budget.
Missouri spent less in general revenue on the enhancement of Children's Division caseworkers ($100,000) in the 2022 budget. The Department of Health and Senior Services received less than half that amount ($58,155) on new lab space during the heat of the pandemic.
Parson said he chose to do tax cuts this year because the state budget is seeing an unprecedented surplus.
In the fiscal year 2023 state budget, Missouri spent less on additional staff for the Student Financial Aid Program ($115,884) and a University of Missouri agriculture research partnership ($120,000).
