Missouri House Bill HB1758

Missouri 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/3/24
• Refer: 3/28/24
• Report Pass: 4/25/24
• Refer: 4/30/24
• Report Pass: 5/7/24

Caption

Establishes the Education Stabilization Fund

Impact

The establishment of the Education Stabilization Fund could potentially provide a safety net for educational funding, ensuring that public schools remain funded as closely to fully appropriated amounts as possible, even in fiscal years when actual revenues fall short of estimates. This additional financial mechanism is expected to stabilize the funding landscape for public education, which has often faced uncertainties due to variable state revenue parameters.

Summary

House Bill 1758 introduces the creation of the 'Education Stabilization Fund' in the state treasury, aimed at ensuring consistent financial support for public schools in Missouri. This fund would be designed to collect specific revenues that are earmarked solely for educational purposes, preventing any leftover funds from reverting to the general revenue at the end of the fiscal year. This legislative move seeks to address fluctuating state revenues impacting educational funding during economically challenging times.

Contention

While the intent behind HB1758 is to bolster education funding during economic downturns, points of contention may arise regarding the adequacy of revenues allocated to the fund. Critics might question the sustainability of the fund in terms of revenue generation and appropriations from the general assembly. There's also the potential debate over whether the fund will sufficiently address the discrepancies in funding that different school districts experience, given the varying needs and economic conditions across communities.