With the state legislature more than half-way through their session and the April election day just days away, I have been getting more questions from patrons and the media about the future of school funding in Missouri and what it means for Fort Zumwalt.
Related to school funding, there have been questions regarding the impact of the Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force, which Gov. Mike Kehoe established last May to review and make recommendations on the foundation formula that is used to allocate state funds to public and charter schools. The task force report is due to the governor Dec 1.
While we can’t assess the impact of a report that hasn’t been written, we can look at the role state funding plays in our operations.
About 28 percent of the Fort Zumwalt operating budget (the funds allocated for day-to-day expenses such as salaries, benefits, utilities, supplies, etc.) comes to the district through the state’s foundation and transportation formulas. Changes to these resources could cause us to look for offsets or further dip into our local resources to make up the difference. As an example, you might have heard over the past few years how impactful it has been for the state to fully fund the transportation formula. It has meant roughly an extra $1 million per year from the state, preserving local resources the district had been using to make up the shortfall in previous years.
Next, you might have heard discussion of Proposition RT. This measure will appear on the April 7 ballot across St. Charles County, as required by the passage of Senate Bill 3 last summer. You will remember Senate Bill 3 as the state’s effort to keep the Chiefs in Kansas City, but it also included a measure to cap real property (real estate) tax depending on the county you live in. Residents in 17 counties, including the city and St. Louis County, are unaffected. Residents in 75 counties will vote on whether to cap at no more than a 5 percent increase over 2024 levels. And, residents in 22 counties, including St. Charles, will vote on whether to cap at 2024 levels. The Board of Education agreed to contribute up to $5,000 to help fund a lawsuit challenging the Constitutionality of the bill. That legal challenge is still underway and unresolved to date.
Local revenue is the most reliable revenue we have because, unlike state revenue, it cannot be withheld and because, unlike the 3 percent of operating funds we receive in federal dollars, it is not allocated for specific expenses. Property taxes make up 48 percent of the district's operating revenue. If approved, initial projections put the first-year impact of Proposition RT at $5 million in lost revenue for Fort Zumwalt, with the impact growing each year. There are currently no provisions to replace that lost revenue.
We will continue to keep a close eye on developments that could impact our ability to meet our mission and I will be sure to update you whenever appropriate. We are fortunate because we have healthy reserves and a history of strong stewardship of our fiscal resources. In times of uncertainty, this solid foundation will be even more important.
I look forward to sharing with you the celebrations that mark the end of each school year, and our plans as we look to what's next. It is my honor to partner with our community as we Educate, Empower and Equip Students to Excel.
Dr. Henry St. Pierre
Superintendent