Missouri public schools are getting a fraction of funding back after millions in withholdings were announced in the last few months.
Gov. Jay Nixon restored $6 million for the foundation formula - the equation that determines how much state funding each public district will receive - and $3 million for school transportation, according to a Wednesday news release from Nixon's office.
A 5.8 percent increase in Missouri's net general revenue for September made it possible for Nixon to appropriate $12.1 million into the budget.
"Public education has always been a top priority for Missourians, and the continued solid growth of our economy is making it possible to put this funding into our schools," Nixon said. "We continue to provide record funding for our classrooms, and I'm pleased to have this money go to our public schools."
Just a few weeks ago, Nixon announced $59.1 million was being withheld from several departments after the Legislature overrode his veto to enact special-interest tax breaks, forcing him to take $59.1 million from other budget lines to make up the anticipated lost revenue.
Roughly $24 million in state funding cuts were taken from the foundation formula and transportation. The withholdings came just a couple months after Nixon announced $115.5 million in withholdings, including a 5 percent increase in transportation revenue for school districts.
The reallocation restores the $6 million taken from the foundation formula, but still leaves $13.5 million of unfunded money for transportation.
Jason Hoffman, chief financial officer for Jefferson City Public Schools, said its difficult to tell how much they expected to lose from the foundation formula, but they'll gain back about $25,000 of the total $150,000 for transportation reimbursements.
Blair Oaks Superintendent Jim Jones said the $6 million release of funds would restore roughly $9,000 to the district for the foundation formula. The $3 million would trickle down to an approximate $2,500 increase for transportation costs - $16,500 is still being withheld.
"Any time withheld funding is restored you have to be encouraged, but we will proceed with caution as we advance through the fiscal year," Jones said.
"We are not going to overreact or underreact. We are going to appropriately react to withholdings and subsequent restorations. We all have to live within a budget. We all have to operate within our means. The state of Missouri is not excluded from responsible fiscal management."