Members of the group say even with our current surplus, money is not going toward the programs that need it most.

"The state cannot deficit spend, we can't run a deficit, we can't borrow money so what that means is that next year there are going to be $500 million worth of cuts in services," said Amy Blouin of the Missouri Budget Project.

Cuts in services the project says are already down to the bone. In 2005, Missouri was ranked 53rd in funding for childcare services. Fifty-Third because they were behind Guam, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Add in these national rankings Missouri ranks 44th in state spending. Forty-Fourth in K through 12 education and 46th in spending on higher education.

The number of Missourians without health insurance is also on the rise, growing three times quicker than other states.

"We're at the bottom of the barrel in health care services across the nation and it's hard to fathom any further cuts in that area," said Blouin.

If Missouri Budget Project is right, the cuts would hit education and heartache the hardest.

"It's more people that we then have to worry about," said Sidney McCarther of AARP. "How are going to get those folks adequately cared for?"

Yet, the people who write the budget are not worried. The governor's office said it does not project a deficit in the state budget any time soon.That leaves a multi-million dollar debate up to the forces of the economy.

The governor's office points out the Pew Center ranks Missouri as having strong financial management.