School spending is budget scapegoat

For Missouri to lose 5,000 public-school educators, as first estimated -- or even 3,400, as later calculated -- would be a serious loss. When it comes to that, we are in full agreement with Gov. Bob Holden and a group of school administrators who are making that claim.

But that's where the agreement ends.

Holden and the Missouri Association of School Administrators say budget cuts approved by the Missouri Legislature would result in losing that many teachers and other certified personnel.

It won't. The public sees through such scare tactics.

Before ending the regular session, legislators passed a sensible $19 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Legislators estimated revenue projections for the budget were short $12 million. Holden, however, claimed the budget was $367 million short. He especially pointed to how many teachers would be lost as a result. Since the regular legislative session ended, the state has received word that it will get an infusion of nearly $400 million in federal funding.

No one denies these are tough times brought on by a still shaky economy. It's been tough for lawmakers to make fiscally responsible budget decisions, but they understand the public prefers holding the line on spending rather than higher taxes.

Even in a worst-case scenario, the number of educators who might not be replaced for the coming school year won't come close to the number suggested by the governor and others.

Unlike other state programs that got less funding than they asked for, public school districts will have more money to spend in the upcoming year, in spite of the $184 million cut in state funding for education.

Missouri's 524 school districts are expected to generate an additional $280 million in local tax revenue, thanks in part to mandatory statewide reassessment this year.

That figure for increased local funding didn't come out of the air. The estimates were based on research done by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the state budget staff and the Missouri State Teachers Association.

State Sen. Peter Kinder observes that the budgeted state funding for schools in the next fiscal year will be about at 2001 levels. In the past three years, only 800 teaching positions have been added in public schools statewide. It stands to reason that the number of teaching vacancies that go unfilled as a result of the new budget might be -- at worst -- in the neighborhood of 800, or fewer than two positions, on average, for each school district.

Holden vetoed the budget bills for education and human services last month and called the legislature into a costly special session that began this week. He wants the legislature to increase funding for several state programs, including education. And he wants that extra funding to be based on tax increases that would have to be approved at a later date by Missouri's voters.

The public sees Holden's use of the veto pen as political posturing. Voters are likely to remember his efforts to use the budget as a political club when next year's elections roll around.