Missouri’s state budget has been propped up by a flood of federal dollars, creating a mirage of prosperity with record-high spending on schools, roads, and healthcare. But for the farmers, small business owners, and families of Chariton County—living in tight-knit towns like Keytesville, Salisbury, Mendon, and Brunswick—this federal cash has delivered little lasting relief. Missouri’s reckless budget overspending, fueled by temporary federal funds, is steering rural communities toward a fiscal crisis. With up to 40% of the state’s budget tied to federal money, the state’s addiction to Washington’s handouts spells disaster when—not if—the federal spigot shuts off. Worse, corporate welfare tax cuts that favor big businesses over regular Missourians have gutted the state’s ability to stand on its own, leaving Chariton County’s rural heartland facing slashed services, crumbling infrastructure, and a betrayal of conservative values.
Federal Cash: A Mirage for Rural Missouri
Missouri’s budget has soared to unprecedented levels, reaching $48.399 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, $51.85 billion in FY 2024, and $51.2 billion in FY 2025, driven by a surge of federal transfers. In FY 2022, Missouri pocketed $21.7 billion in federal funds, making up 31.8% of state and local revenues—5.3 percentage points above the national average. This ...
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