Green with Envy? Heterogeneous Voter and Parent Preferences for Public School Expenditures and Teacher Salaries.

This article examines voter and parent support for increased public school spending and teacher salaries in Missouri, a state characterized by below-average school funding and low teacher pay. Using data from two representative statewide surveys of Missouri voters and parents, the study finds that both groups in lower-spending districts are more likely to support increased total school spending, but this pattern does not consistently extend to support for higher teacher salaries. Political ideology strongly predicts spending preferences among voters more than parents, while parents’ preferences are more influenced by their perceptions of local and statewide school quality. Additionally, both voters and parents show sensitivity to regional spending disparities regarding total spending but not teacher salaries, highlighting potential challenges for policymakers aiming to address pay equity and resource allocation in a politically conservative context.