Legistlative Update Graphic

March Legislative Update

Mid-Buchanan R-V SD

March 20, 2026

March Legislative Update

Dragon Nation,

In February, information was shared about HB 2780. Two weeks ago, HB 2780 was revised to include only a multi-rate for personal property tax. With this change, the potential loss for our district decreased from $265,000 to $63,000. Thank you for reaching out to our representatives and supporting our district and all districts in Missouri. It is important to continue monitoring HJR 148, HB 2709, and HB 1766 from the February legislative update. I also want to highlight SB 971, which focuses on open enrollment; SB 2 could impact Parents As Teachers, and the potential elimination of the income tax could affect not only the school district but all public services. 

SB 971 - Open enrollment has been a topic in our state legislature for several years, but it has not been implemented yet. Currently, open enrollment is being discussed in both the House and the Senate. If approved, districts could choose not to participate, but students would still be able to leave our district.

When students leave a district, state funding associated with those students leaves with them. However, many expenses—such as buildings, transportation, and staffing—remain the same. This can strain school budgets and reduce resources for students who stay. In the first year, up to 24 students (3% of the student population) could leave, resulting in a funding loss of about $215,000. The cap would continue to rise if it was reached for two consecutive years. 

While open enrollment may help some families, it can also limit options for others. As enrollment drops, districts may be forced to cut or eliminate programs like fine arts, career and technical education, extracurricular activities, and athletics.

There are also wider community effects. When families send students to other districts, local support for school funding—such as tax levies and bond issues—may decline. Over time, this can impact the district’s financial stability and long-term planning. These are just a few effects if SB 971 were to pass. 

SB 2 - Parents as Teachers - This proposal would prevent Mrs. Sandlin, our Parents as Teachers coordinator, from seeing children who enroll in preschool. Preschool and Parents as Teachers complement each other by providing support to children before they start kindergarten. Moreover, they might replace Parents as Teachers with a digital learning platform. Since Mrs. Sandlin has been responsible for Parents as Teachers, our district has seen significant progress in our young learners, who enter kindergarten with the development, intellectual, and emotional skills necessary for success. 

Eliminating Income Tax - Income tax accounts for about two-thirds of Missouri’s revenue. Everyone in Missouri pays a 4% income tax to the state. Recently, the House approved eliminating the income tax, and it is now before the Senate for a vote. If the bill passes the Senate, the people of Missouri will have the final say on whether to eliminate it. If both the state and the people vote to eliminate income tax, be aware that the cost of everyday goods would increase by 25%-30%. That means for every $100 spent, an additional $25 in taxes would be added, making the total $125.

Eliminating income tax would result in a loss of $1,109,614 in state funding for our district, which can be used to pay for 20 teachers or 35 support staff. 

Again, we encourage our families and community members to stay informed and share their perspectives with our local legislators about how our district could be affected. You may reach out to:

Finally, on April 7th, voters in Buchanan County will be asked to consider a homestead property tax credit for eligible homeowners on their primary residence. This could also impact our local district funding if approved. If you have questions about this property tax credit, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

April Campbell

Mid-Buchanan Superintendent