SJSD projects nearly $14 million in funding losses if Amendment 5 passes

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)-- The St. Joseph School District has shared the information with the community about the potential financial impact of Missouri Amendment 5, which will appear on the Aug. 4 Primary Election ballot.

A large portion of Missouri's General Revenue Fund—which helps support public education—comes from individual income taxes.

Amendment 5 would make changes to the state's tax structure and would impact how much general revenue funding is available for schools in the future. 

Based on an analysis by the Missouri Budget Project and the district's financial data, SJSD estimates it could lose approximately $13.96 million in annual funding if the amendment is approved by voters.

To put that into perspective, the total is about 7% of the district's annual budget, or roughly $1,480 per student.

Currently, about 32% of the district's revenue comes from state funding. 

While these estimates provide an idea of the potential impact, the long-term impact on school funding is still uncertain.  

At this time, the state has not announced a plan for how any reduction in General Revenue would be replaced if the amendment passes. 

Community members can learn more about the district's finances, including a Citizen's Guide, on the district's website: https://www.sjsd.k12.mo.us/departments/business-office.