Gov. Jay Nixon signed a supplemental appropriations bill yesterday, but he's directing the state's education leaders to spread funding cuts among all districts rather than follow the language of the bill, which he says is unconstitutional.
House Bill 2014 provides $86 million in June supplemental funding for the state's 523 school districts, meaning a cut of roughly $43 million, or 2 percent, in funding.
The formula currently labels school districts "hold harmless" if they have not received a funding increase since the formula was introduced in 2005, and House Bill 2014 exempted those districts from the cuts.
Nixon signed the bill, but he has directed the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to spread the cuts equally among all districts rather than among the 370 districts slated in the bill.
In a news release, Nixon said that districts were told in February that cuts would be made proportionally among all districts. He said the bill's funding plan was unconstitutional because it amounted to legislating through appropriation.
"In February, this administration laid out a plan that provided clarity and stability in funding for school districts, and it’s vital that we follow through on that plan," Nixon said in the release. "My action today ensures that we uphold our pledge to every school district in this state, and that we distribute our education funds fairly to every corner of Missouri.”
Some members of the General Assembly strongly opposed the governor's move.
"He does not unilaterally ... get to say what is constitutional or not," State Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, told the Associated Press. "That shakes the very foundation of our form of representative democracy."
The announcement means Springfield R-XII School District faces $850,000 in funding cuts rather than $1.1 million under the bill's proposal, according to Springfield Superintendent Norm Ridder's blog on
the district Web site.
"This news is a relief to SPS and many neighboring school districts," Ridder said in the posting. "It is unfortunate that we will have to make any reductions, but thanks to our conservative budgeting practices and efficient and effective use of resources, we anticipate SPS will be able to adapt to the lesser reduction without any drastic cuts between now and June 2010."[[In-content Ad]]
