Amendment 3 “a hidden tax increase”
that supports roads at schools’ expense

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The Missouri National Education Association opposes Amendment 3, the amendment appearing on the Nov. 2 ballot by initiative petition, which shifts money from the state’s general revenue fund to support construction of new roads.

“Amendment 3 is a hidden tax increase,” Greg Jung, president of Missouri NEA says. “It will siphon funds now used for education and other programs to support a massive increase in road construction.” Within four years, the proposal would divert nearly $190 million annually in general revenue to roads and bridges, forcing an equal amount of cuts in general revenue spending, according to MNEA.

“On the heels of three bad budget years and billions of dollars in painful cuts to all sectors of Missouri government programs including public schools and colleges, passage of Amendment 3 will deal a devastating blow,” warns Jung, a fifth grade teacher in the Ritenour School District.

“The legislature will decide which programs will suffer cuts to make up for the $190 million diversion of general revenue funds that will occur if Amendment 3 passes. The bulk of those cuts will be split between education and social services, which make up about two-thirds of general revenue spending,” adds Jung.

“Amendment 3 sacrifices our public schools to build roads,” says the MNEA president. “Underfunding of the school formula has already led to another lawsuit against the state, college tuition rates have soared and Amendment 3 will only worsen the situation by removing more general revenue from legislative appropriations.”

MNEA represents 32,000 teachers, education support professionals, retired teachers and students studying to be teachers in school districts and on college campuses across the state. It is the Missouri affiliate of the 2.7 million-member National Education Association, the largest organization of educators in the country.

For further information:
Carol K. Schmoock or Debra Angstead
573-634-3202

September 29, 2004

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