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Board hears concerns that Amendment 5 could make school funding less predictable
Summary
Board staff explained Amendment 5 would give the legislature a five-year window to replace income tax revenue with sales tax, potentially making K'212 funding more volatile; board members urged community education and monitoring.
District finance staff and board members spent substantial time discussing Missouri Amendment 5 and how a shift from income to sales taxes could affect district revenue stability.
Mister Cook highlighted the mechanics and risks: "What this amendment would literally do is create a 5 year legislative window for the state to replace income tax with increased sales tax," he said, warning that sales-tax replacement could be "more volatile" than income tax. Board members raised concerns that the change could exacerbate existing shortfalls in the foundation formula and shift the tax burden toward consumption, affecting lower-income households and retired educators who currently enjoy a tax exemption on a portion of pension income. Several trustees recommended the district consider an informational campaign and other outreach to help community members understand potential impacts.
