Missouri lawmakers appear to agree with Gov. Jay Nixon that public colleges and universities should get more money next year.
But some lawmakers want to put part of that money toward building improvements, instead of devoting it to operations as proposed by Nixon.
House Budget Committee Chairman Rick Stream says he wants to make use of a 2012 law that authorizes state money for college building projects that generate a 50 percent match through private donations.
Under the program, five university campuses have submitted a total of eight applications for building projects that seek an aggregate of nearly $43 million from the state.
Nixon included no money in his budget plan for the buildings.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Kurt Schaefer says he's open to funding some of the projects.