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HANNIBAL, MO. -- Missouri public schools are bracing for a round of cuts they can't prepare for.

Superintendents like Dr. Jill Janes of the Hannibal School District learned yesterday that they need to prepare for a two percent cut in funding for the current school budget.

The state legislature plans to make the cuts to make up for a budget shortfall in the current budget year.

For Hannibal, that means losing 240 thousand dollars this budget year.

Dr. Janes says her district has to go through its budget line by line to hold spending.

Superintendent Jill Janes said, "It's difficult this time of year because you've spent six months worth of your budget already and you have to finish out the year with salaries and benefits so it is difficult this time of year. What we're doing is looking at all the line items in our budget that still have money for supplies and expenditures and we'll have to freeze them."

But Dr. Janes says these cuts will *not* impact the school's plans to build a new Mark Twain Elementary and Early Childhood Center.

Does this affect the bond issue?

Dr. Janes said, "It doesn't. We're fortunate in that because it is two separate levys, two separate parts of the school district's budget. The operating expenses is what are being cut $240 thousand. That money is just for teachers' salaries, supplies and day to day operating expenses. The debt service levy is what pays for debt or borrowing the money for the bond issue. That money is completely different. You can't use that money for anything but debt."

These aren't the only cuts Missouri Schools anticipate. They also are standing by for a possible four to six percent reduction in funding from the state's foundation formula, depending on next year's projected funding levels. Those cuts would be a part of the budget for the upcoming school year.

We also spoke to Representatives Rachel Bringer and Brian Munzlinger about the possible cuts in education funding. They says these possible cuts are being considered because the state's revenues in February did not improve. That's causing the state to restrict spending to maintain a balanced budget.

Munzlinger and Bringer agree next year's budget is a long way from being finalized, but say they're both fighting to make the foundation formula more fair for rural schools.