New Missouri law threatens school funding in some counties

A new state law threatens to flatten a major source of revenue for school districts in St. Charles, Franklin and Jefferson counties.

The law would require the three counties and others to place a measure on local ballots by the April municipal elections, asking voters whether property tax bills should be frozen for homeowners.

Residential real estate taxes represent one of the largest sources of revenue for Missouri public schools.

A revenue freeze would cause most affected public school districts to lose out on millions of dollars each year amid the grip of rising costs of labor and supplies.

Education officials worry the law could lead to cuts in services or staff.

“This would have a significant impact on us,” said Carrie Schwierjohn, superintendent of Meramec Valley R-III School Di