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Statewide survey finds schools need more money.

March 2, 2004
By: Paul C. Matadeen
State Capital Bureau

-=UPDATE 1=-

A statewide survey reports more than one-hundred Missouri school districts plan to ask taxpayers for more money on April's ballot.

Paul Matadeen has more about what's at stake.

Story: UPDATE 1
RunTime: APPROX :40
OutCue: SOC

In the survey more than 20-percent of school districts report they will ask for a tax increase... or else lose teachers and programs.

The reason...

Two years of cutbacks in state aid...and another is likely.

Dr. Kent King, Missouri's Commissioner of education says schools will have to make cuts if tax increses don't pass.

Actuality:KKING4
RunTime: :06
OutCue: "KEEP IT UP."
Contents: "DISTRICTS CANNOT SPEND IN THE RED SO THEYLL HAVE TO MAKE CUTS IF THEY DONT HAVE THE REVENUE TO KEEP IT UP."

According to the survey, tax increase proposals will appear on one-hundred thirteen ballots in April, and King says future increases are likely.

From the state capitol, I'm Paul Matadeen.

More than twenty percent of schools say they need more taxpayer money to keep programs and teachers.

Paul Matadeen tells about a recent survey's results and why districts are asking for a tax increase on April's ballot.

Story: UPDATE 2
RunTime: APPROX :40
OutCue: SOC

State Education Commissioner Dr. Kent King says the choice is simple... increase taxes, or lose school programs.

He says proposes tax increases across the state are last-ditch efforts to save school programs.

Actuality: KKING1.WAV
RunTime: :14
OutCue: "...HAVE THIS."
Contents: "THEY'VE ELIMINATED PROGRAMS THEY THINK THEY COULD, AND THEYRE JUST SAYING IF WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THE TYPE OF EDUCATION YOU WANT FOR YOUR KIDS, AN ESSENTIAL EDUCATION , WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS."

King expects the state to cut over a hundred million dollars next year.

He says that's about the same amount of money to operate a medium-sized district in the state for an entire year.

From the state capitol, I'm Paul Matadeen.

A statewide survey finds that more than twenty percent of school districts will ask taxpayers for more money.

Paul Matadeen tells why state education officials say the April tax is necessary.

Story: UPDATE 3
RunTime: APPROX. :40
OutCue: SOC

In the survey, more than one hundred school districts reported they will put a proposal on the Spring ballot that will ask taxpayers to help pay for school programs.

Education commissioner Dr. Kent King says increases are a response to over two years of state budget cuts.

Actuality: KKING5.WAV
RunTime: :08
OutCue: "...IMMEDIATELY REACTING."
Contents: "THE MESSAGE THAT IS CLEAR TO ME IS THAT ITS NOT JUST THESE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN... THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE JUST IMMMEDIATELY REACTING."

King expects to lose over 100-million dollars from the state next school year.

From the state capitol, I'm Paul Matadeen.