By AP/St. Louis Public Radio
Jefferson City, Mo. – More than a quarter of Missouri's public school districts are being shielded from a midyear funding shortfall.
Gov. Jay Nixon said earlier this year that declining tax revenue would prevent the state from making $43 million in scheduled midyear payments to school districts.
The Education department planned to spread that shortfall among all 523 school systems. But the House voted to exempt about 150 districts because they didn't benefit from an increase in state aid under the funding formula passed in 2005.
Yesterday, the Missouri Senate went along with the House decision on a 32-2 vote.