REP. KASTEN INVOLVED IN STATE BUDGET PROCESS

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Since this is only her first year on the Budget Committee of the Missouri House of Representatives, Mary Kasten says she is learning a lot and has much more to learn.

But the Cape Girardeau Republican observed that the state's tight financial condition may make the budget process a little less hectic this year because lawmakers understand there is very little new money.

Since getting appointed in January to the panel responsible for drafting the House version of Missouri's nearly $9 billion budget, Kasten has spent many hours in meetings and hearings that goes with committee duties.

"It is quite an intriguing kind of process and I am learning an awful lot," noted Kasten Friday.

The committee is in the process of reviewing recommendations from each of the five appropriations committees and hopes to finish that work this week. On Monday, the group will begin studying the recommendations from the appropriations committee for health and mental health, which Kasten also serves on.

"We are going through mark-up now. The appropriations committees have put together their priorities and reviewed what the governor's recommendations were," explained Kasten.

There have been some core budget cuts, she noted, which is a rare occurrence. The reason for that, said Kasten, is because there really is almost no new money to deal with. Agencies are finding ways to cut back on their own to avoid having legislators go in and do it for them.

Kasten explained that there is an estimated growth in state funds for Fiscal 1992 of $170 million, but $100 million of that will be absorbed by federal mandates.

Kasten said she is impressed the way most state agencies have carefully scrutinized their requests for the new budget. "Since they know there are limitations, the departments have worked hard to evaluate funding and programs and give everything very careful study," she remarked. "I think everybody took a realistic look at the fact there is no extra money."

The budget process can be one of high pressure in a normal year, but with tight money, Kasten believes there is much less pressure.

"The pressures are always there for funding, but they are not as great as they could be with the realization that there is nothing to disburse and a reluctance to fund any new programs because we can't fund all that we have now," said Kasten.

One strategy of the budget process this year is to try and find ways to access more federal dollars through matching funds, added Kasten. Another strategy is a freeze on hiring new employees and cuts in travel by state employees and purchases of new equipment.

By the end of this week, the Budget Committee is hoping to have approved or be close to giving final approval to the 12 bills that make up the state's budget.

The House hopes to complete action on appropriations bills by March 14 so that the Senate will have plenty of time to take action.

The General Assembly must complete action on the budget bills and have them on the desk of Gov. John Ashcroft by the end of April.

One issue the full Budget Committee will address this week is whether to include $25 million in the budget to help fund an expansion of the convention center in St. Louis, including a domed football stadium.

An appropriations committee rejected the funding recently, but officials of St. Louis city and county will appear on Wednesday to ask the budget panel to reinstate the funding.

Kasten said she voted against the funding last year and noted "due to the budget crunch I'm not sure it is a good use of state funds. Before I can support it, I need to be able to show to my constituents how it will benefit all the people of the state."

Kasten said she is looking forward to hearing the justification for providing state funds for the project from St. Louis officials this week.

Reflecting on the total budget process thus far, Kasten said she believes the state's fiscal crunch could be a long term benefit if it leads everyone to look at programs more carefully and attempt to do things as prudently as possible.

"We may find some ways to do more with less as a result of this," suggested Kasten.