Governor Jay Nixon (D) has decided to let state employees take the day after Thanksgiving off work this year.
The state’s latest general revenue report show that Missouri collected 7.5 percent more money last month than it did in October of last year, and State Budget Director Linda Luebbering says that’s part of the reason why state workers will get to stay home on November 23rd.
“It does cost us a little bit to provide those holidays to state employees, and that’s why he didn’t authorize that in (20)10 and (20)11, because of that cost to the budget," Luebbering said.
Peter Mueser is an economics professor at the University of Missouri – Columbia. He says despite the positive report, the state's economy still has a way to go.
“A seven (point-5) percent increase is a substantial improvement, but obviously we would hope for more," Mueser said. "There’s been hope that the economy would begin to improve very quickly, and as positive as things look, they aren’t as positive as anyone had hoped a year or two or three ago.”
Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter: @MarshallGReport
