JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Gov. Jay Nixon has reversed an $8.5 million cut to public colleges and universities because of improving state revenues.

Nixon announced Monday that he is releasing the money to be distributed to higher education institutions. He also released several hundred thousand dollars that had been withheld from foster care programs, child-care subsidies and the State Historical Society of Missouri.

The governor had placed spending restrictions on about $15 million of items in the state’s $24 billion operating budget when he signed it last June.

After Monday’s decisions, Nixon still has a block on nearly $6 million of spending. The governor says he’s waiting to see if tax revenues continue to improve before making a decision on those other items.

Revenues are up 9.5 percent so far this fiscal year.

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