Superintendent warns Senate Bill 3 could cut millions from Ozark R‑VI budget
March 02, 2026 | OZARK R-VI, School Districts, Missouri
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Superintendent Dr. Wilson told the Ozark R‑VI Board that Senate Bill 3 and the related April 7 ballot will reduce the district’s assessed valuation and could cut district revenue significantly if it passes.
“This will 100% reduce the amount of revenue that our school will take in if it passes,” Dr. Wilson said, showing a county map and describing which counties would experience 0% or 5% resets to valuation. He said the district’s assessed residential valuation fell from about $510,000,000 to $454,000,000 under the proposed reset and that the board should plan for a revenue loss.
Why it matters: Board members heard the proposal could force reductions to salary and staff if revenue drops. Board member Speaker 1 framed the potential worst‑case loss in personnel terms: “we'll lose about $2,400,000 estimated,” he said, and noted that teacher pay represents a large share of the district’s budget.
Board members asked for clarifications about which parcels and homesteads the bill covers and how county assessors will implement the law. Dr. Wilson said county assessors will need to define “parcels” and “homestead” for local implementation, and acknowledged legal challenges under way: “we are working through the courts to determine if this is a constitutional law,” he said.
Board members also discussed differing county impacts. One member noted Missouri’s low state funding ranking and observed that neighboring counties classified as “no change” would be better able to absorb inflation and salary increases. Dr. Wilson warned that if the district’s fund balances fell to one‑third of required levels, the state could intervene: “Once you get to 33% in your fund balances, then, yes, that's when the state would come in,” he said.
Next steps: The superintendent and staff said they will continue to monitor the litigation, finalize talking points and provide more detailed financial scenarios to the board. The district reiterated that it can only inform voters about the ballot language, not tell them how to vote.
“This will 100% reduce the amount of revenue that our school will take in if it passes,” Dr. Wilson said, showing a county map and describing which counties would experience 0% or 5% resets to valuation. He said the district’s assessed residential valuation fell from about $510,000,000 to $454,000,000 under the proposed reset and that the board should plan for a revenue loss.
Why it matters: Board members heard the proposal could force reductions to salary and staff if revenue drops. Board member Speaker 1 framed the potential worst‑case loss in personnel terms: “we'll lose about $2,400,000 estimated,” he said, and noted that teacher pay represents a large share of the district’s budget.
Board members asked for clarifications about which parcels and homesteads the bill covers and how county assessors will implement the law. Dr. Wilson said county assessors will need to define “parcels” and “homestead” for local implementation, and acknowledged legal challenges under way: “we are working through the courts to determine if this is a constitutional law,” he said.
Board members also discussed differing county impacts. One member noted Missouri’s low state funding ranking and observed that neighboring counties classified as “no change” would be better able to absorb inflation and salary increases. Dr. Wilson warned that if the district’s fund balances fell to one‑third of required levels, the state could intervene: “Once you get to 33% in your fund balances, then, yes, that's when the state would come in,” he said.
Next steps: The superintendent and staff said they will continue to monitor the litigation, finalize talking points and provide more detailed financial scenarios to the board. The district reiterated that it can only inform voters about the ballot language, not tell them how to vote.
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