House Proposal Freezes School Funding (MO)

April 28, 2010

The Missouri House took a first step Tuesday toward potentially resolving a dispute over how to fund public schools in coming years.

Lawmakers have been torn this session on how to cut education spending to balance the budget, but do so in a way that’s equitable to all schools districts, which have individual variances in how they’re funded.

On an 82-72 vote, the House narrowly approved an amendment to a larger education bill to change the 2005 foundation formula for basic school funding.

The proposal essentially freezes school funding for the next two fiscal years while the state deals with budget deficits and the end of one-time federal stimulus money next year, said Rep. Maynard Wallace, R-Thornfield.

Wallace, the sponsor of the amendment, also said it would spread out cuts to all 523 school districts if funding in the future dips below current levels — a distinct possibility when federal stimulus money runs out next year.

"It also says here if there’s more money available, the legislature can appropriate it," Wallace said, pointing to his amendment.

Wallace, a former school superintendent in the Ava and Forsyth districts, said his provision should give schools more comfort in knowing how much state funding they will get in the coming years.

"I’m just simply trying to give some realistic approach as to what monies might be available rather than giving school districts a false sense of hope of what revenues might be available," Walla ce said on the House floor.

But Democrats said the provision moves the date set in 2005 for gradually increasing school funding over a period of five years to 2017.

"It’s wrong to let them off the hook," said Rep. Sara Lampe, a Springfield Democrat who voted "no" on the amendment. "We’ve just given them a pass to not fully fund education."

Even when the economy rebounds, the legislature would not have to increase funding at the same rate it previously promised schools, Lampe said.

"If we do not hold their feet to the fire … it will be spent in other places," Lampe said.

Rep. Bob Dixon agreed.

"I think we need to hold our own feet to the fire there," said Dixon, a Springfield Republican who also voted "no."

The amendment was tacked onto a larger education funding bill that still has not been approved by the full House.

But Wallace said Tuesday’s vote was a test to see if there is the 82-votes minimum needed to make changes to the formula for basic school funding.

The Senate has passed similar language that also would spread future budget cuts among all districts, but penalize 16 so-called "hold harmless" districts with additional cuts because of their higher local property taxes and assessment values.

Wallace said there are other bills the amendment may be tacked onto in the final two weeks of the session, which ends May 14.

The roll call vote in the Republican-contr olled House was not entirely along party lines. Some Republicans joined most Democrats in voting "no."

Dixon, Lampe and Rep. Charlie Norr were the only representatives from Christian or Greene counties to vote "no." The rest of the local delegation voted "yes" on Wallace’s amendment.

Some lawmakers complained that the plan is a political ploy for lawmakers to tell voters they fully funded education by moving the goal posts.

"We can’t really say we’re fully funding the formula if we’re changing the formula," Dixon said.