HCS HB 689 & 510 -- SCHOOL FINANCE

SPONSOR:  Fitzwater (Davis, 122)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Education-Elementary and Secondary by a vote of 21 to 0.

This substitute repeals the provision in the definition of
operating levy for school purposes that prohibits using the
calculated levy when a school district's actual operating levy
exceeds its calculated levy.

FISCAL NOTE:  Cost to General Revenue Fund is Unknown for FY
2000, FY 2001, and FY 2002.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the original purpose of the
calculated levy was to prevent school districts from losing
state aid due to reassessment.  There is a "notch" in the
computation of the calculated levy that under certain
circumstances will keep a district that has raised its levy from
realizing the full value of state aid on the increased levy.
This bill eliminates the "notch" in the calculation.

Testifying for HB 689 were Representatives Davis (122) and
Holand; Missouri Council of School Administrators; and Santa Fe
R-X School District.

Testifying for HB 510 were Representative Froelker; and
Gasconade County R-2 School District.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Becky DeNeve, Legislative Analyst

HB 689 -- Calculated Levy for School Operations

Co-Sponsors:  Davis (122), Holand, Hosmer

This bill repeals the provision in the definition of operating
levy for school purposes that prohibits using the calculated
levy when a school district's actual operating levy exceeds its
calculated levy.