Legislature Focuses On Changes To Funding Formula

Fixing the school funding formula is a major issue this legislative session, one singled out for special mention by Governor Matt Blunt in his State of the State speech in which Blunt called on the legislature to address the problem of inequity among Missouri school districts. A change advocated by the Governor is to allow rich school districts to opt out of the formula. Senate Majority Floor Leader Charlie Shields of St. Joseph favors the proposal, saying there aren’t that many districts that would qualify. Shields also views favorably the other proposals offered by Blunt: distribute gambling revenue to school districts on a per-pupil basis and allow school districts to use sales or income taxes to fund operations, rather than the property tax.