The Missouri House of Representatives is considering the creation of an avenue for local funding for early childhood education and childcare.
The house bill would allow for counties and independent cities to propose a vote on implementing a property tax and an early childhood education board to be the deciding body for how to use the funds.
Missouri’s definition of early childhood education is broad and includes the possibility of funding childcare for children under the age of five.
There are 72 counties in Missouri that are considered a childcare dessert, meaning there are three children for every licensed childcare slot, according to a recent evaluation by Child Care Aware Missouri.
The use of property tax instead of sales tax was supported by one witness as a more stable way to generate income and prevent harming the people the bill aims to help. In November, St. Louis voted to increase property taxes to fund early childhood education and childcare.