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Ozark R-VI says Senate Bill 3 could cut millions from school budget
Summary
An Ozark R-VI spokesperson warned that Senate Bill 3would limit property taxes and could reduce district revenue by an estimated $1.8$2.3 million in year one and up to $10 million by 202829, primarily affecting staff and student services; the district urged voters to review the April 7 ballot measure.,
An Ozark R-VI spokesperson warned that Senate Bill 3, a proposed limit on residential property taxes, would force "drastic budget cuts" for the district and could sharply reduce funding that pays teachers and support staff.
The spokesperson, who did not give a personal name, said property-tax revenue funds operating expenses and estimated that Ozark R-VI would lose "$1.8 to $2.3 million in revenue in the first year and up to $10 million of revenue by the end of the 2028-29 school year" if the measure is approved. "Approximately 80 to 85% of our operating budget is dedicated to staff salaries and benefits," the spokesperson said, and noted that building projects are financed separately through voter-approved bonds and a capital fund that cannot be used for personnel costs.
Why it matters: Local property taxes fund schools, fire districts and other services in Christian County. The district said residential property tax revenue accounted for 65.6% of its local property-tax revenue for the 2025-26 school year, and that a residential-tax freeze interacts with existing laws in ways that could compound revenue losses as costs such as utilities, insurance and transportation rise.
Details cited by the district: The district framed the figures as estimates and consequences tied to its current budget structure. The spokesperson warned that without revenue growth to offset inflation, Ozark R-VI "would be required to evaluate reductions in expenditures" and that, given their cost breakdown, those reductions "would primarily impact personnel and student-facing services." The statement repeated that teacher and support-staff pay make up the bulk of operating costs, saying, "When funding goes down, the people who feel it most are the educators and support staff who show up every day for our students."
Context and next steps: The spokesperson said Ozark schools, the Ozark Fire Department and other entities in the state are pursuing litigation challenging the constitutionality of the law. The statement urged voters to "carefully review the measure and consider what it could mean for our students and for the services our families rely on" ahead of the April 7 ballot.
The district presented the numbers as its best estimate; the spokesperson did not provide a signed report or a breakdown of how the district derived the $10 million projection.
