These proposals (called HJRs 5, 6, 7, and 8) would get rid of personal property taxes in Missouri. That may sound like a tax break, but here’s the problem: property taxes are one of the main ways schools—and other local services like fire departments, libraries, and police—get the money they need to operate.
Why It Matters for Families
Missouri already spends less state money on schools than any other state in the country. Only about 28% of school funding comes from the state—the rest comes mostly from local property taxes. For context, schools in Missouri get a smaller share of funding from the state than any other state, meaning we are 50th out of 50. Kansas, by comparison, funds 63% of its schools’ budgets. Kentucky provides 47% and Iowa provides 53% of funding. This is significant as local funding, in the form of property taxes, has to make up for this shortfall from the state and, therefore, accounts for a greater share of total school funding than all but 4 states, meaning 5th out of 50.
That means when you see buses running, teachers in classrooms, sports teams competing, or libraries open—it’s largely thanks to your local community paying property taxes.
If lawmakers reduce this funding, schools across Missouri will face tough choices, which could potentially lead to:
- Larger class sizes
- Fewer teachers and support staff
- Cuts to various programs
This wouldn’t just affect kids—it would affect the whole community. Strong schools mean strong neighborhoods, better home values, and safer communities. Our District has worked extremely hard to make the progress and gains that we are experiencing currently, and we hope that we don’t have a significant reduction in funding to potentially derail this in any way.
How You Can Help
Parents, grandparents, and neighbors can make a real difference. Here are a few steps you can take:
- Contact Your State Representative: These proposals are being discussed in the House right now. A quick call or email letting them know you support public schools can go a long way.
- Spread the Word: Share this information with other parents, friends, and neighbors. Many people don’t realize how important property taxes are for keeping schools running.
- Get Involved Locally: Talk with your school board, teachers, or parent groups about what’s happening. The more we speak up together, the louder our voice will be in Jefferson City.
The Big Picture
While the special session ended without passing any of these, we know they will be brought back up during this session, and decisions made in the coming months could have lasting effects on our children’s education. Grandview’s kids deserve safe classrooms, great teachers, and opportunities to succeed to ensure they are truly Future Ready. We can’t let short-term tax cuts put their future at risk. Together, as staff/parents/community members, we can make sure our schools have what they need—today and for generations to come.