SB 353, HCA 1 -- CALCULATED LEVY FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS

SPONSOR:  Johnson (Shields)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee
on Education-Elementary and Secondary by a vote of 22 to 0.

This bill revises the definition of operating levy, which
contains a provision that protects districts against the loss of
state aid when a district is forced to roll its tax rate back
because of reassessment.  Currently, if a district increases its
voluntary rollback, it loses the benefit of the so-called
"calculated levy."  The bill permits the use of the calculated
levy as long as a district does not decrease its tax rate
voluntarily.

HCA 1 -- Removes the 5-year limitation on use of calculated levy
under certain conditions.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue Fund of $0
to Unknown in FY 2002, FY 2003, and FY 2004.  Estimated Net
Effect on State School Moneys Fund of $0 in FY 2002, FY 2003,
and FY 2004.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that districts that levy less than
their authorized amount lose the benefit of the calculated levy
because current language requires elimination of the calculated
levy when a district increases its voluntary rollback; the bill
permits a district to use the calculated levy as long as the
district's actual tax rate does not decrease.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Johnson; Missouri School
Boards Association; Missouri State Teachers Association; School
Administrators Coalition; and Missouri National Education
Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:47 am