HJR 129: School District Debt Expansion
Sponsor: Rep. Brad Pollitt
OPPOSE
Weakens fiscal guardrails.
HJR 129 places a constitutional amendment on the ballot to raise the debt ceiling for school districts from 15% to 20% of taxable tangible property. While it maintains current voter approval thresholds, it significantly expands the government's ability to indebt families and increases property tax exposure for homeowners and businesses without adding new fiscal protections or transparency requirements.
What Does This Bill Do?
- Raises the Debt Ceiling: Amends the Constitution to increase the school district debt cap from 15% to 20% of assessed property value.
- Retains Voting Thresholds: The existing supermajority vote requirements (4/7ths or 2/3rds, depending on election date) for bond elections remain unchanged.
- Targeted Expansion: The change only affects school districts; debt limits for counties, cities, towns, and other political subdivisions remain capped at 5%.
Constitutional or Critical Context
Section 26(b) of Article VI serves as a constitutional guardrail to protect taxpayers from excessive government debt. By raising this cap, the legislature would be strengthening the hand of school administrators, bond underwriters, and construction interests who push for "need this now" bond campaigns. Scripture warns that "the borrower is servant to the lender," and raising debt limits moves the state away from prudence and fiscal restraint.
Red Flags & Recommended Amendments
Massive Expansion of Debt Capacity
Moving the cap from 15% to 20% allows for significantly larger bond issues, longer-term debt loads, and stacking multiple projects, ultimately relying on higher property taxes to repay the interest and principal.
Zero Companion Reforms
This is a pure expansion of government power. It includes no new requirements for transparency on total indebtedness, no independent audits before elections, and no limits on non-instructional "wants" vs. "needs."
Act for Missouri Recommendation:
Act for Missouri opposes HJR 129. While schools need facilities, the constitutional response should be better stewardship and discipline, not a higher debt limit. This measure increases the long-term risk of higher property tax burdens on Missouri families and seniors on fixed incomes.