Mo. House, Senate split on school money shortfall

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- House and Senate budget writers are backing different solutions for handling a funding shortfall for Missouri schools.

Gov. Jay Nixon has said Missouri does not have enough money to provide a $43 million midyear boost due to schools under a state financing formula.

Earlier this month, the House voted to exempt about 150 of Missouri's 523 school districts from the effects of that shortfall. The House said those districts should not face cuts because they have not gotten increases under a 2005 revision to the funding formula.

On Wednesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee endorsed a different approach. The panel wants to let state education officials divide the $43 million shortfall among all school districts.