Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has signed legislation allowing the use of $189 million in federal education money to fill shortfalls in state funding.
Nixon signed the measure Monday at a high school in Linn, about a half-hour east of Jefferson City.
The federal money won't yield a net increase in the funding of local school districts. But it will help avoid a reduction in basic state aid to schools during this and future academic years.
Some Republican state senators criticized the spending bill, saying that accepting the federal funds will increase the national debt.
“Rejecting these funds would have had an immediate – and harmful – impact on Missouri schools," Nixon said in a press release. “School districts are relying upon those funds in the supplemental budget to meet payroll and other expenses this school year."
The release states that Nixon also mentioned the need for the state Senate send him another bill before its deadline for passage on May 6. The bill contains language related not only to education but also law enforcement, transportation, clean water programs and child care.
Updated 4:16 p.m. May 2 with comment from Nixon and additional information.