Missouri School Districts Should Share Spending Cuts Equally
April 13, 2010
As we all know, Missouri is experiencing histori c shortfalls in state income taxes, state sales taxes and other revenues that finance state government. Nearly every branch, service or program is operating with less money this year, and that includes K-12 public education.
Districts such as North Kansas City Schools are well aware of revenue shortfalls. In fact, we are in our third year of cost cutting as a result of a shrinking local tax base.
On Thursday, the Missouri General Assembly passed House Bill 2014. It determined which school districts would bear the pain of the state funding shortfall this school year — and how badly. Of Missouri’s 523 school districts, 371 will endure the full brunt of the shortfall, while 152 will experience none of it.
If Gov. Jay Nixon signs House Bill 2014 in its present form, North Kansas City Schools will instantly lose $2.6 million from this school year’s promised state aid allocation. That would be the second largest cut in the state.
As superintendent of Missouri’s sixth-largest district, with 18,300 students, it would be my job to find significant, additional reductions that don’t harm kids or classrooms, with only three months left in the fiscal year.
State revenues this year are nearly 13 percent below projections, and there isn’t enough money coming into the state treasury to finance education as planned.
Our school board and I fully understand the shortfall in funding, and our school district is certainly willing to bear our share of the fiscal pain. But the logic behind the distribution method is faulty. The remedy for the funding shortfall should be applied to all of Missouri’s school districts, not merely some.
And what about future years? Economists are forecasting that state revenues will lag again in 2011 and 2012, which should mean less money for everyone in the next two years. But would it ?
Depending on the criteria for next year’s funding distribution, North Kansas City Schools stand to lose up to $7 million more next year in the state formula calculation, while other districts could actually gain. That simply is not fair.
The current foundation formula, established in 2005 by Sen. Charlie Shields, a Republican from St. Joseph, has been upheld by the Missouri Supreme Court as both adequate and equitable.
That funding formula needs to be honored. When the formula is underfunded, all districts should share the burden by an equal percentage of reduction. When all school districts, not some, share an equal portion of the impact, the outcome is less harmful for all of the state’s students.
I understand the severity of the funding situation facing our legislators, and I can empathize with their challenge to balance the budget. But I must advocate on behalf of all students.
Our state representatives and senators should treat all students fairly and equitably as they distribute funding to schools this year and next.
Todd White is superintendent of the North Kansas City School District. He lives in Kansas City.