Missouri lawmakers sent the state budget bills to Gov. Jay Nixon two weeks ago, so they would have time in their final days to override any line-item vetoes he might make.
They won't get that chance this year, because the governor on Friday signed all 13 bills into law with no veto of any individual appropriation.
He told reporters Friday he's still reviewing three capital improvements bills the Legislature sent him this week - and has until late June to sign or veto those measures.
The budget goes into effect July 1 and covers the state business year that ends June 30, 2016.
Nixon did veto one phrase in the bill providing funds for the Mental Health and Senior Services departments.
Lawmakers wrote that, "beginning on January 1, 2015," the state would pay "a three percent (3%) provider rate increase ... for private duty nursing procedure codes."
The governor left the appropriation but removed the date - noting lawmakers agreed it was "a drafting error" in the bill.
During Friday afternoon's news conference, the governor thanked the lawmakers "for, once again, passing a budget on time, and providing the fiscal certainty and stability that's an important part of maintaining out Triple-A credit rating."
Nixon said that accomplishment is not to be taken for granted. "Just this year, lawmakers in Florida and Washington (state) adjourned without passing a budget at all," he noted.
Although he didn't veto any appropriation, Nixon still could hold back some of the money authorized to be spent in the new budget year. He frequently has withheld money in previous years, arguing revenues haven't been strong enough to support the lawmakers' spending plans.
It's too early to say if he'll do that again, he said.
"We just don't know, yet," Nixon said. "We, obviously, had a really good April. ... Hopefully, the economy will keep improving."
He said lawmakers could authorize more spending in the next business year "because our economy continues to rebound - more folks getting back to work means more revenue for priorities that will keep moving our state forward."
In the new budget, the governor highlighted:
• "Record funding for the best educational tool there is - public education - with an $84 million increase" in the formula that distributes money to more than 500 elementary and secondary education school districts.
• A separate $21 million extra expected in sales taxes generated by the 1-cent education sales tax voters approved three decades ago.
Added together, Nixon said, the new budget marks an increase of $105 million for school districts around the state, providing "smaller class sizes, more technology, better training for our teachers and other tools that will help our kids succeed."
• $12 million more in performance funding for higher education institutions and $2 million more for the A+ Scholarship program.
• $13.9 million in improved funding "to ensure that Missourians with developmental disabilities receive the services they need to lead more independent lives," including transportation and physical and occupational therapies.
• $43 million more for "additional individuals with developmental disabilities who are in a crisis and need more intensive care."
• An additional $27.9 million for elderly and disabled Missourians needing care in their own homes.
Nixon was disappointed lawmakers "unnecessarily cut $90 million from vital services, including health care for seniors, people with disabilities and kids," he said. "We're working to assess, and minimize, these impact of these cuts on social services."
The governor also issued a "signing statement" that part of House Bill 2, which funds education, contains language "that is inconsistent with existing law."
Rather than veto the money, Nixon said in a letter to House Chief Clerk D. Adam Crumbliss, the language is considered "void and unenforceable" and will be viewed as legal surplus.
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