Missouri tax amnesty brings in $35 million for health care

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said the state's temporary tax amnesty program will bring in $35 million this year.

Nixon announced the revenue figures Tuesday, a day before lawmakers are to convene for their annual session.

Last year, lawmakers had assumed giving taxpayers three months to pay delinquent taxes without penalties would bring in about twice that amount. And they had budgeted $40 million of that money to expand dental care and increase the amount Medicaid pays health-care providers.

The money is still enough to expand dental benefits for 282,000 low-income Missourians. It also will fund a 1 percent increase in state Medicaid payments to certain health-care providers.

Lawmakers will need to come up with another source of money to continue funding the programs in next year's budget.