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Ozark R-VI board keeps 4.14 levy as one member objects to fund-shifting
Summary
The Ozark R-VI Board of Education voted to set the property-tax levy at the voter-approved 4.14 rate. One board member cast a recorded 'No,' saying the district’s practice of moving money between funds circumvents the Hancock Amendment’s intent to return windfall revenue to taxpayers.
The Ozark R-VI Board of Education voted to set the district’s tax levy at the voter-approved 4.14 rate after a motion by Board member Sarah, seconded by Guy. The motion was recorded as passed with one 'No' vote; the meeting minutes show the dissenting board member asked that their reason be included in the record.
The dissenting member (speaker 4) said the board’s pattern of alternately raising and lowering different levies and shifting money between funds effectively avoids returning windfall increases to taxpayers. “The Hancock Amendment in [the] Missouri Constitution specifically required us then to lower our levy in order to return some of that windfall of money to the taxpayers,” the member said, adding that the maneuver is “not technically illegal, but… unethical and in violation of the clear intent of that law.”
Supporters of keeping the levy at 4.14 argued the district needs the revenue to preserve programs. A board member who moved the motion cited comparative tax rates and the district’s responsibility to use voter-approved resources to provide instruction: “For an innovative school district who cares about each child, we need every penny to provide a high quality education,” the mover said. The motion was passed "as presented" and recorded as approved with one 'No' vote; the transcript records multiple 'Aye' responses but does not provide a full named roll-call tally.
Why it matters: The exchange centers on how the district balances legal requirements, voter intent and operational needs. The Hancock Amendment was invoked as the legal and ethical yardstick by the dissenting member; the transcript records that the member will include a formal written explanation in the minutes. The board majority said the current arrangement is consistent with maintaining programs and the district’s budgetary plan.
Next steps: The board recorded the vote and will include the dissenting member’s statement in the minutes. There was no further action on the levy during this meeting.
