By WHITNEE ICE
St. Joseph Post
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has released more than $280 million back to Missouri schools which he had withheld due to fears about what the coronavirus pandemic would do to state revenue.
Parson originally withheld $438 million when the forecast predicted Missouri's unemployment rate would hit 16.3% but is currently at 5.8%.
The governor’s action didn’t surprise state Rep. Brenda Shields of St. Joseph.
"I wouldn't say surprised, I was really happy. I mean, we have a lot of dollars in the treasury right now and the state has really recovered well from COVID," Shields tells St. Joseph Post. "When I say recovered we never really had a truly bad experience in the state so I was happy, I was pleased that the Governor released those dollars."
Shields says this will be beneficial for public schools.
"I think that this is much needed funds especially for our K-12 schools that have really been struggling with all the different things we've asked them to do and if they have figured out how to survive this year on the fewer funds that we've given them, this might give them a little something extra in the bank for them to be able to begin next year," says Shields.
Shields says colleges have worked hard to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"They have really worked hard to make sure they can have some in-person classes and they have virtual classes and they have tried to be able to create as much as a normal environment for our college students as possible and I think that by releasing these dollars they'll be able to take a deep breath of awe and be able to know that they can start this fall strong," says Shields.
Shields is a member of the House Budget Committee.