The Tour of Missouri will go on as planned. Gov. Jay Nixon announced this afternoon that he would release $1.5 million allocated by the Missouri Tourism Commission to sponsor the cross-state bicycle race.
In a statement issued from his office, Nixon said the state's economic situation is serious but that the race should proceed.
"The race will go on this year, and Missourians deserve to know that state funds for the event are used transparently and accountably," Nixon said. "They should know precisely how money for the Tour of Missouri is being spent, and that the event is being run in a way that minimizes the cost to taxpayers."
A representative of Nixon's budget office met with officials from the Division of Tourism, the Department of Economic Development and Tour of Missouri Inc., the not-for-profit corporation that holds rights to the name and other aspects of the race.
"To ensure transparency and accountability, I asked the Office of Administration to seek a full and fair explanation of all expenditures connected with the Tour of Missouri in 2007 and 2008, and of budgeted expenditures and contracts for 2009," Nixon said.
Those figures are being provided and that is enough to allow the $1.5 million in sponsorship funds to be released, Nixon said.
For more information, check back at semissourian.com or read Wednesday's Southeast Missourian.
http://www.semissourian.com/story/1554512.html
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