Legislature needs to consider small school funding

Dear Sen. Pearce and Rep. Fisher,

I am writing to you publicly to discuss a problem that is occurring not only in our community, but more than likely also happening all across the state and probably the Midwest. The challenge is school funding, particularly for the smaller rural schools throughout our state.

Voters in the Northeast Vernon County School District have been asked again to raise the levy on that district by 99 cents. This is in addition to a $4.22 tax, already the highest of the four schools in our county. The proposal this election is to fund a 20-year lease purchase of a building by a simple majority vote. This is the third attempt by the school board. Each of the prior tries have failed, but this requires a simple majority. That's right; one vote will obligate the district for a quarter of a million dollars annually over the next 20 years!

This proposal is obviously in the middle of the extremely uncertain funding that your legislative bodies have struggled with and are seriously concerned about for the future. What will become of this school and the debt obligation if Governor Nixon is forced to cut school funding even further and the funds of this levy remaining for the school's operation are inadequate?

As respected legislators of our state, I request that you take a very stern look at what I agree is a very unpopular subject (it divides our community every election) and develop what must be a long term solution to our small school finance. The levy is a burden to the taxpayers of that district. It is a detriment to future development in that district. And, it will be a disaster to fund a $3 million building that is empty, since there is no money for teachers, buses, books or utilities.

I'm confident that our community is not the only one faced with this challenge. I urge you to address it with the other legislators of our state as this long-term challenge needs to be a part of Gov. Nixon's annual budget dilemma as well.

Sincerely

Rob Barrett