DESE seeks huge increase in funding

It doesn't hurt to ask. That seems to be the philosophy of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary education. It says it needs $820 million more for the 2004-05 school year than the legislature appropriated this year.

Keep in mind that other state agencies are also sending their wish lists to Gov. Bob Holden, who has to make a budget recommendation when the legislature convenes next January.

The budget process always starts with departments and agencies asking for the moon, only to have their requests whittled down by the governor's staff. But given the state's anticipated billion-dollar shortfall in revenue for the next fiscal year, requests from one agency for so much additional funding is neither realistic nor prudent.

The Missouri Department of Transportation tried to make its case for a huge increase in annual appropriations a couple of years ago. While there is little doubt that MoDOT could spend the money if it had it, an additional billion or two for one agency would require sharp cuts in other agencies or huge tax increases. Neither option ever received serious consideration.

The same goes for DESE. It's credibility is as much on the line as MoDOT's when outlandish budget request like this are made. It's as if DESE thinks making a point is more important than finding a workable funding level that takes into account all of the state's spending needs.