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Parkway board members warn state tax proposals could sharply reduce school funding
Summary
Board members who attended Advocacy Day in Jefferson City told the Parkway C-2 board they are tracking state proposals to cut property- and income-tax revenue that they said could remove large portions of state funding for schools, and urged community engagement and contact with legislators.
Board members who attended the Missouri School Boards Association Advocacy Day in Jefferson City warned Wednesday that proposed changes in state tax policy could significantly affect Parkway C-2's budget.
"Property tax for us is 90% of our budget," said Matt (board member), summarizing the concerns he heard in the state capital and calling this legislative session "the most stressful year we've seen" for education funding. He said some proposals under consideration would roll back or reduce income-tax and property-tax revenue that supports local schools.
Another board member who attended the trip said Parkway should be proactive in educating legislators about how school finance works and where money is spent. "They need to understand how it's reported in a transparent, trustworthy, competent manner," the speaker said, urging the district to make public-education faces visible to state lawmakers.
Board members discussed options for further engagement, including attending hearings in person and testifying when appropriate. The superintendent also said the district will hold four community-conversation sessions in coming weeks to solicit public input and help residents understand potential budget pressures.
The board did not take any formal action on state legislation at Wednesday's meeting; members said they will continue to monitor bills and return with specific requests for advocacy or testimony if needed.
Next procedural steps: board members recommended watching the legislative calendar through May and preparing to escalate district advocacy if bills that would reduce school funding advance.
