State Rep. John Black: How state funding decisions actually get made
State Rep. John Black walked through it this week, and it starts where you might expect—with the governor.
Each year, the governor puts together a budget recommendation. That plan heads to the House, where lawmakers take a close look and make changes. From there, it moves to the Senate, where more adjustments can happen.
And if the two sides don’t match up?
They sit down and work it out.
Eventually, a final version lands back on the governor’s desk. That’s where another decision gets made. In Missouri, the governor can approve parts of the budget, reject others, or trim specific items using what’s called a line-item veto.
So even at the end, it’s not really the end.
Black said one of the biggest challenges right now is money. Specifically, general revenue—the state’s main pot of funding that isn’t tied to federal programs or special projects.
“There’s just not enough to go around,” he said..
Some programs that used to rely on that funding may now have to compete harder to keep it. Others could see cuts. And looking ahead, Black said that pressure isn’t going away anytime soon.
At the local level, that could mean more responsibility shifting to communities.
Cities, counties, and school districts already have the ability to ask voters for funding through local taxes. Black said that option may become more common as state dollars tighten.
“It may come down to local folks stepping up,” he said.
Black said residents who care about specific services—whether it’s schools, fire departments, or other local needs—should stay engaged. That can mean contacting lawmakers, speaking up at meetings, or simply voting when issues are on the ballot.
The budget process for this year isn’t finished yet. Lawmakers are still working through differences, and final decisions are still ahead.
Kimberly Sella, Public Transit Association: Discusses the need for funding with Oats Transit
For a lot of people, public transit is just something you use when you need it.
Get to work. Make a doctor’s appointment. Run to the store.
Kimberly Cella says funding decisions happening right now at the state level could have a real impact, especially in rural areas.
“We’re really fighting to hold on to what we have,” she said.
Cella represents transit providers across Missouri, including OATS Transit, which covers a big chunk of the state. In fact, it’s the largest rural transit system in the country, serving 87 counties.
And it’s not just about errands anymore.
More than half of OATS trips are now tied to getting people to work.
“That’s job access,” Cella said. “That’s healthcare access. That’s daily life.”
The concern right now comes down to funding. The governor’s budget proposal includes cuts that could significantly reduce state support for transit systems. For OATS alone, that could mean a drop of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
State dollars often help unlock federal funding. So when one goes down, the other can follow. Cella called it a “double hit.”
Lawmakers are still working through the budget, and there’s been some movement to restore part of that funding. But it’s not final yet.
So for now, transit groups are speaking up.
Cella said anyone who sees the value in public transit—whether they ride it or not—should pay attention and reach out to state leaders.
Because if the cuts go through, the impact could be felt quickly.
Especially in smaller communities, where options are already limited.
“You can’t manage mobility if you don’t have transit,” she said.
And for a lot of Missourians, that ride is more than just a convenience.
Dorothy Yeager, Executive Director for Oats Transit: The biggest challenge comes down to one word. Funding
OATS has been around for a long time. Since 1971, in fact. This fall marks 55 years of service across rural Missouri. That’s a lot of miles. A lot of people helped along the way.
But every year, the funding question comes back around.
“It’s a year-to-year process,” Yeager said.
A big part of that funding comes from federal grants. But there’s a catch. Those dollars require a match. State and local money has to be there first to unlock it.
Last year, Missouri set aside about $6.7 million for transit providers. This year, the original proposal dropped that down to $1.7 million.
That’s a big gap.
Yeager said if that lower number had stuck, it would have made a noticeable dent. Less state funding means less ability to draw down federal dollars. And that can lead to one thing.
Fewer rides.
There’s some good news, though. The Missouri Senate has moved to restore that $5 million cut, at least for now. It’s not final yet, but it’s a step in the right direction.
For OATS, the difference is real.
With full funding, they can cover about 20 percent of the match needed for federal grants. Without it, that drops to almost nothing.
Which means local communities would have to pick up the slack.
And those local dollars come from all over. County tax boards. Agencies. Donations. Even small contributions add up..
In places like Webster County, the need isn’t slowing down. OATS provides more than 2,000 rides a month there alone. That’s not a small number.
For now, the focus is on keeping things steady.
Because for a lot of people, it’s not just a ride.
It’s how they get through the day.
Brandy Badgett, Senior Center Lead at the Marshfield Senior Center:
For some folks, it’s just a bus ride.
For others, it’s a lifeline.
Brandy Badgett sees that every day at the local senior center. The OATS bus pulls up, doors open, and people step off ready to visit, laugh, maybe play a little bingo.
But it’s more than that.
“It helps with isolation,” Badgett said. “And that’s a big deal.”
A lot of seniors don’t drive anymore. Some gave up their license. Others just don’t feel safe behind the wheel. Without a ride, it’s easy to stay home. Day after day.
That’s where OATS Transit steps in.
The service brings people to the senior center at no cost. It also helps with trips to the grocery store, appointments, and even rides to Springfield for medical visits.
But the biggest impact?
Connection.
Badgett shared a recent example. A woman who had been pretty much on her own started coming to the center using the bus. Now she shows up every day.
“She’s part of things now,” Badgett said.
That kind of change doesn’t go unnoticed.
Riders get to know each other. They get to know the drivers. And the staff at the center notices, too. If someone doesn’t show up for a few days, people check in.
It becomes a circle of care.
“They’re not alone,” Badgett said.
And that’s the part you can’t really measure.
Take away that bus, she said, and you lose more than transportation. You lose a piece of community. A way for people to stay connected and feel seen.
Janice Dugan: A customer’s perspective
For Janice Dugan, the OATS bus isn’t just a ride.
It’s how she gets where she needs to go.
Dugan said she first heard about OATS Transit years ago through the Marshfield Senior Center. At the time, she needed help getting around.
“I’m disabled, and I needed transportation,” she said.
That was more than a decade ago.
Since then, she’s been riding the bus for about 12 years. Trips to the senior center. Doctor’s appointments. Grocery runs. Just everyday things most people don’t think twice about.
Getting to the center is free. Other trips, like appointments or shopping, usually cost a couple of dollars for a round trip.
“It’s worth it,” she said.
Because for riders like Dugan, this service isn’t optional. It’s how they stay connected, how they get care, how they keep a routine.
Around the senior center, it’s common to see familiar faces stepping off the bus. Some from Marshfield. Some from nearby towns like Rogersville. They come in, visit, play bingo, and catch up.
It’s more than just transportation.
It’s part of their day.
And for people like Dugan, it’s something they’ve come to count on.
