School Transportation Underfunded

Missouri can fund up to 75% of school bus transportation costs, which currently total about $278 million. Under the governor’s and the Education Department’s new budget proposal, Missouri underfunds these expenses by about 185 million dollars. During a House Budget Committee hearing, St. Louis Democrat Peter Merideth asked the department’s Kari Monsees (mawn-sess) why 93 million dollars was requested instead of 278 million.

Statute requires school transportation to be provided to students living more than three-and-a-half miles from school.