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On Monday, the House Budget Committee will hear testimony from administration officials on spending plans for federal dollars that flowed into the treasury as part of the COVID-19 response.

On Wednesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee will hear from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which is seeking a $120 million boost in the school aid formula.

But with Republicans dueling in the Senate over which members are the most conservative, Parson acknowledged that he may have to enter the fray if lawmakers are unable to complete their work on the spending blueprint by a May 10 deadline.

“I give them guidance. I give them advice,� Parson told a group of reporters, editors and newspaper owners gathered Thursday for lunch in the Governor’s Mansion. “If you say, ‘I’m not going to do the budget,’ then I would probably step in. We don’t have the option.�

Approving a budget to keep state government operating is a constitutional requirement of the General Assembly.

If an impasse occurs, one option for Parson would be to call a special session to force the House and Senate to approve a spending plan, potentially pushing the Legislature into overtime in a summer when lawmakers are itching to hit the campaign trail before the August primaries.

“It’s an election year. I don’t know what will happen,� Parson said.

In his final year in office, Parson is calling on the House and Senate to boost teacher pay, build up child care options to allow for more parents to move into the workforce and begin planning for a long-sought widening of Interstate 44 from ºüÀêÊÓƵ’ southwestern suburbs to Joplin.

Under his proposal, the term-limited Parson would leave his successor a $1.5 billion surplus as a cushion for any economic downturn that may come in the future.

In comments to reporters, Parson’s chief of staff Aaron Willard said leaving behind a surplus is key.

“We really believe that we have overseen transformational changes in the state of Missouri, and I did not say that lightly,� Willard said.

House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, a Carthage Republican who is running for state treasurer, expressed enthusiasm about getting talks underway.

“I am excited about the opportunity to collaborate on crafting a budget that aligns with the needs of our constituents while maintaining a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility,� Smith said.

The House got an early start on reviewing the state budget by beginning their work in December, rather than waiting until the session began in January. That could position the chamber to get a blueprint to the Senate earlier than usual, opening a wider window for negotiations between the two chambers.

“As a steward of taxpayer dollars, I am determined to pass a sustainable budget that will better position Missouri in the years going forward,� Smith said. “Crafting a balanced budget requires careful consideration of priorities and a commitment to making tough decisions when necessary.�

On the other side of the aisle, Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Manchester, applauded some of the governor’s budget plans but said it still falls short of providing adequate services for people who care for seniors and the developmentally and physically disabled.

“We are short of providers because our pay is too low. We need another $400 million to compensate members of this vital workforce appropriately,� Lavender said.

She also warned against a Republican push to phase out corporate income taxes, which could decrease state revenues by an estimated $800 million annually.

In addition to calling for an infusion of money to boost the amount schools spend on students, Parson is asking for a $1.5 billion outlay of federal money to expand broadband internet access throughout the state.

He wants a 3% increase for higher education and more than $300 million for new construction projects at the state’s universities and community colleges.

Workers on the state payroll would see 3.2% raises to help fill thousands of vacant positions and retain the more than 40,000 current state employees.

Employees who work in 24-hour facilities such as prisons, juvenile homes and mental health hospitals could qualify for an additional 1% increase for every two years they’ve been on the job, up to a maximum of 10%.

House Majority Leader Jon Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, said the governor’s budget presentation marks the beginning of a more intense schedule for lawmakers, who are in session until May 17.

“The Legislature is like an aircraft carrier. It kind of starts slowly. I think now we’re now really starting to get going,� said Patterson, who is on track to become House speaker next year.