Gov. Jay Nixon's administration is cutting back on a $32 million-a-year special program for the blind.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the program offers monthly pension-like payments. The Department of Social Services has told all 3,847 people receiving the pension checks to expect a $33-a-month cut in January. The cut will save the state an estimated $730,000.
Social services officials say that for the last several years, the pensions have been costing more than the blind pension fund collects. State law calls for benefits to be reduced when that happens.
But advocates for the blind say that is puzzling, given that the pensions are funded from a small statewide property tax. Preliminary State Tax Commission data shows statewide assessed property values are projected to grow this year.
