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Nixon Unveils Plans To Pay For New Fulton State Hospital

St. Louis Public Radio | By Marshall Griffin,
Marshall Griffin
Published December 9, 2013 at 6:07 PM CST
Aerial view of Fulton State Hospital, 1934.
Craig C. Chapman/Cx3 Photography
Aerial view of Fulton State Hospital, 1934.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon(D) has released plans to fund construction of a new state psychiatric hospital in Fulton.

Nixon says his state budget for the next fiscal year (FY 2015) will include a bond issue designed to generate roughly $200 million to help cover the projected $211 million price tag.

"With interest rates still at historic lows, this bond proposal is a fiscally responsible and measured approach that will insure a new facility can be built that is safe, secure, and conducive to healing," Nixon told media and hospital officials at a press conference Monday at the facility.

The Governor today also released $11 million earmarked for the design phase of the new Fulton State Hospital.  It opened in 1851 and is the oldest state mental hospital west of the Mississippi River.  FSH also houses the Biggs Forensic Center, the only maximum security psychiatric facility in Missouri.

"(Fulton State Hospital's) wards are cramped, loud, and deteriorating, leading to injuries among staff and patients," Nixon said.  "In fact, based on workers' compensation costs, it's far more dangerous to work here at Fulton than any (Missouri) Department of Corrections facility."

The Governor is seeking to use a so-called appropriations bond, which he says would not require voter approval.  But long-time House Member Chris Kelly (D, Columbia) disagrees.

"First thing is, what is an appropriation bond?  It's a creature that doesn't exist in our law," Kelly said.  "The Constitution of Missouri sets out a way for the state to borrow (money), and it includes allowing the people to make that decision, not the Governor, not the legislature."

Earlier this year, Kelly and House Speaker Tim Jones (R, Eureka) co-sponsored a resolution that would have required voter approval for issuing more than a billion dollars in bonds for numerous state building projects, and that included brand-new facilities for Fulton State Hospital.  Kelly says he plans to sponsor similar legislation during the 2014 regular session, which begins next month.

Fulton State Hospital is operated by the Missouri Department of Mental Health.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter:  @MarshallGReport

Copyright 2021 St. Louis Public Radio. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio.

Missouri News
Marshall Griffin
Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.
See stories by Marshall Griffin
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.