Record school funding by state called lacking

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- While Missouri's public school systems will receive a record-high level of state financial aid during the upcoming fiscal year, some lawmakers say it isn't enough.

The final version of the education budget drafted by negotiators from the Senate and House of Representatives will disperse $2.76 billion among Missouri's 524 school districts for the fiscal year beginning July 1 -- $142.9 million more than budgeted for the current fiscal year.

However, the budget plan still falls approximately $600 million short of fully funding the formula for distributing basic state aid. Full funding was last achieved for the 2000-2001 school year, although the legislature came close to doing so the following year.

State Rep. Carl Bearden, the House budget chairman, said the current formula adopted in 1993 is no longer sustainable and likely will be scrapped within the next couple of years.

"This formula will never be fully funded for the rest of its future," said Bearden, R-St. Charles.

While lawmakers generally agree the formula is broken, some Democrats argued steps should have been taken to bring the state closer to full funding.

"The cost of education is going up year by year by year," said state Rep. Frank Barnitz, D-Lake Spring. "It is going to take more money to keep up."

On Thursday votes of 101-39 in the House and 33-1 in the Senate the education appropriations measure was sent to Gov. Bob Holden.

By wide margins, the chambers also gave final approval to several of the other appropriation bills that will make up a roughly $18.8 billion state operating budget.

Compromise versions of three bills that include funding for the agriculture, public safety and social services departments are still being negotiated. Lawmakers have until Friday's constitutional deadline to complete work on the budget.

Because the education formula is based on statewide property values, which are always increasing, the money needed for full-funding annually grows by six-figure amounts. Budget experts both in and out of state government have long said such a growth rate isn't realistic.

During debate on the education bill, House Majority Floor Leader Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, said the fact that money was found for other purposes important to lawmakers and their constituents shows the House fulfilled its obligation to first adequately fund education. He cited restoration of funding for the Cottonwood Children's Residential Treatment Center in Cape Girardeau, which Holden proposed cutting, as an example.

State Rep. Phillip Willoughby, D-Gladstone, said lawmakers shouldn't be applauding themselves for providing a relatively small increase in education spending while paying for pet projects.

"I don't know if this is the year that we should be disseminating pork," Willoughby said.

That comment drew a spirited response from Crowell.

"What he calls pork I call taking care of those 32 children receiving mental health treatment at Cottonwood," Crowell said.

The total appropriation for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which includes money allocated to local schools, is nearly $4.77 billion -- a $216.4 million increase from this year and almost $55 million more than Holden recommended. However, the appropriation is $632.4 million less than the department requested.

The legislature also granted final passage to the $1 billion spending bill for the Department of Higher Education.

Southeast Missouri State University's share of that funding would be $43.9 million, about $1 million more than its existing appropriation but $1.4 million less than Holden suggested.

The appropriations bills are HB 1001 through HB 1012.

mpowers@semissourian.com

(573) 635-4608