What is the Outlook for Career Ladder in Missouri?
Current and projected state and local revenue is in serious jeopardy. There simply is not enough revenue to support essential governmental expenditures, let alone any additional expenditure worthy of taxpayer support. State government, unlike federal government, must operate within a balanced budget. We don’t have the option to deficit spend–if we don’t have the money, we can’t spend it. Generally, that’s good. But at a time like this, when state revenues have declined precipitously and taxes have continually been cut, there is no fiscal cushion to soften the blow. Nevertheless, I strongly believe in the importance of the Career Ladder Program to Missouri teachers and children and will do everything I can to find the $37M in state funds needed to supplement the $25M in local district funds allocated to the program. Missouri ranks 41st out of 50 states in average teacher salary, on par with Louisiana and Alabama. Missouri teachers cannot lose this important source of compensation.
