JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KFVS) - More than $100 million for childcare help was taken out of Missouri’s budget. Now, some are concerned this will hurt childcare providers who rely on that money.

An impending vote from the Missouri House of Representatives will send a nearly $50 billion budget to the Senate. But, it’s missing some of the governor’s recommendations, namely $160 million earmarked for child care subsidies. The state budget will be brought to the House floor Tuesday and voted on later this week. It will then go to the Missouri Senate where more changes are likely.

“Shows that we’re committed to funding all the needs of Missourians, but also something that is fiscally responsible,” said House Speaker Rep. Jon Patterson, a Republican from Kansas City.

The removed money for childcare subsidies came from one-time federal funds. It was removed because the state would have to pay it in the future, a cost the House budget chair does not think the state could take on. Democratic lawmakers hope to put it back in.

“We’re working alongside our Senate counterparts on some of those bigger picture things that there’s clearly no appetite in the House for, things like fully funding the foundation formula or restoring the federal dollars for child care assistance for families back home,” said Springfield Rep. Betsy Fogle, the highest ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee.

The money would support a program where the state pays part of a low-income families tuition for child care. It is different from the current program in that it would pay the providers based on enrollment instead of attendance.

The nonpartisan advocacy group Kids Win Missouri said the real losers in this situation are the childcare providers that need state support to stay open.

“Childcare providers are the workforce behind the workforce. In order to have a thriving economy in Missouri, in order to have an environment where both parents have the option to go to work, we need to have a strong child care system,” said Casey Hanson.

A study from United WE, a research group focused on women and family issues, shows there are three children in need for every one open child care spot. The study said 85% of Missouri does not have enough child care for working parents, which is preventing economic growth.

Missouri’s budget analysts are predicting $13.35 billion in general revenue for the fiscal year 2025 state budget. That’s a 0.6% decline from last year’s general revenue. General revenue is the money left to be spent, there is more money that’s already been allocated to specific state departments.

Missouri’s purse strings are pulled tighter this year, but Democratic lawmakers said it wouldn’t be this way if it wasn’t for tax cuts. Republicans want to eliminate Missouri’s income tax, which could further complicate the state budget in the future.