Mo. governor cuts $280M; education takes big hit

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Education is taking a big hit in Missouri's latest budget cuts.

Gov. Jay Nixon announced about $300 million of budget savings Thursday, including $280 million in program cuts and $20 million in increased federal funds.

Nixon cut aid for public school busing by $70 million for the budget year that begins July 1. That's on top of cuts made previously by legislators.

He cut college scholarships by more than $50 million. But about $30 million is expected to offset by a scholarship grant from Missouri's student loan authority.

Other cuts hit state tax credits, mental health services and in-home care providers for the disabled. Nixon also cut 250 state employee positions on top of the nearly 1,000 eliminated in the budget passed by lawmakers.