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Ozark school official says Senate Bill 3 property-tax limits would cut funding for schools and local services
Summary
A representative of Ozark R-VI told residents that Senate Bill 3, on the April 7 Christian County ballot, would cap property taxes and likely reduce revenue for schools, fire districts and senior services; the speaker said Ozark relies on property tax revenue and that building funds cannot be used for staff costs.
A representative of Ozark R-VI told Christian County residents that on April 7 they will vote on a ballot measure implementing property-tax limits known as Senate Bill 3 and warned the change would reduce funding for public services that rely on local property tax revenue.
"On April 7th, voters in Christian County will consider a ballot measure related to limiting property taxes known as Senate Bill 3," the representative said, urging voters to review the measure before casting a ballot.
The speaker said public entities funded by property taxes include schools, "the Ozark Nixa Fire Districts, senior services, and other entities such as CC Links," and that reduced property-tax revenue would lower the funds those organizations receive. The representative added that "a number of other schools and entities around the state are currently involved in litigation to challenge the constitutionality of this law."
The district representative gave a concrete example of the stakes for local schools, saying, "For Ozark schools, approximately 80 to 85% of our operating budget is dedicated to staff salaries and benefits." They noted that building projects are financed separately: "Building projects, on the other hand, are paid through voter-approved bonds and the capital fund that cannot by law be used for paying teachers and staff."
The representative said that if property-tax limits reduce revenue while costs continue to rise, "that results in reductions of services" and could "directly impact people and the services that we provide students." They closed by encouraging voters to consider how the measure could affect students and services families rely on.
There was no formal motion or vote recorded in this statement; the remarks were presented as information for voters ahead of the April 7 ballot. The speaker also referenced ongoing litigation by several school districts challenging the law's constitutionality.
