Southeast Missouri schools prepare for drop in state funding

Area school districts are evaluating open positions as part of their efforts to brace for the possibility of lower state support. As the state budget process begins, Gov. Jay Nixon's proposal could result in lower-than-expected state aid for school districts.

The governor's budget proposal provides one-sixth of the funding increase called for in the state's financing formula, the biggest source of state funding for schools. Under the formula, K-12 schools are set to receive a $106 million increase in funding. Nixon recommended an $18 million increase to the $3 billion in formula funding.

Dr. Jim Welker, superintendent of the Cape Girardeau School District, said he is concerned but it is too early to know how individual districts will be affected.

"I think at this point though we really don't have the information about exactly what that means in terms of total dollars," Welker said.

The Cape Girardeau School District budgeted $6.4 million for the funding formula for the for its current $43 million budget. The district receives 18 percent of its revenue from the state.

In November, district officials held budget forums for employees to discuss cost-cutting measures in anticipation of lower funding. Welker said the district is evaluating capital expenses and open positions.

"We'll have to scrutinize very carefully whether or not we'll have to fill those positions," he said.

The district used the majority of its federal stabilization money to purchase technology, eliminating some capital expenses, he said. Proceeding with a five-year plan to increase teacher salaries is also in question, he said.

"Every time you have the possibility of losing a dollar, sure it does concern us," said Dr. Ron Anderson, superintendent of the Jackson School District.

He said the formula money, $11.9 million in Jackson, mostly goes toward personnel costs, the biggest expense for both districts. Jackson's $42.5 million budget includes receiving 37 percent of its revenue from the state.

In recent years, the district has looked at ways to lower energy usage, Anderson said. Open positions will also be evaluated but he said the district is already a lean operation.

"We run a lesser expenditure per child than a lot of districts in the state," he said.

District officials will have a better idea of how state funding will look in May before they are set to finalize their own budgets, he said.

"We don't know how the legislature is going to deal with the proposal," he said.

State Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, released a statement Friday voicing concerns about Nixon's budget proposal.

"The governor has placed tax credits before education, and I believe those priorities are backwards," Crowell said. "The greatest economic development plan is to invest in a student's education, which means the governor should be focused on fully funding the foundation formula and full funding of higher education instead of tax credits and tax diversions to big businesses."

Crowell filed legislation that would subject tax credits to the appropriation process.

Nixon spokesman Jack Cardetti told the Associated Press that schools do not face the cuts that higher education does. Nixon decreased higher education funding by 5.2 percent. In exchange for preventing larger cutbacks, Nixon made an agreement with university presidents to freeze tuition.

"Getting more money is outside of the norm right now," Cardetti said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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