JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KY3) – Some Missourians could see property tax relief soon, but it could come at a cost for schools.
The Missouri House approved a property tax reform bill that would lower the minimum school tax levy districts must impose to qualify for state funding, sending the measure to the Senate. The legislation would reduce the minimum property tax levy school districts can charge from $2.75 to $2.20 per $100 of assessed value, starting in the 2026–27 school year. Under the bill, taxpayers would see the levy decrease as their property’s assessed value rises.
Bunceton Republican State Rep. Tim Taylor, the bill’s sponsor, said the change would not harm school finances.
“Now the taxpayers won’t be hurt by that because those schools were already being rolled up to $2.75 anyway. Taxpayers aren’t going to know any different,” Taylor said. Not a single school is going to lose money addressing this particular issue here.”
Taylor also said the bill delivers on a year-long legislative priority. This comes after a year’s worth of meetings around the states, where lawmakers invited the public to share their property tax woes and brainstorm ways to bring relief.
“We can assure our constituents that we have made their lives better, and quite frankly, made our lives better as taxpayers as well,” he said.
The bill passed with bipartisan support, though some members voted against it. St. Louis County Democratic State Rep. Elizabeth Fusch said she heard concerns from colleagues about the bill’s potential impact.
“I respect the chairman and his opinion, and yet I listened to some of my colleagues about how they think it’s going to impact Missourians,” State Rep. Fusch said.
Columbia Democratic Rep. Kathy Steinhoff voted for the measure but said she is watching closely how it could affect districts that rely heavily on local property taxes.
“It’s worrisome to me because will we potentially have to supplement some of those smaller districts even more if these reductions take place,” State Rep. Steinhoff said.
Steinhoff noted the change comes as the state is already reexamining how it funds public schools.
“It’s not their intent at all to take money away from schools, I’m just worried that it might,” she said.
The bill now moves to the Missouri Senate, where leaders expect it to serve as the main vehicle for all property tax reform this year.
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