Recently, Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) proposed a $252 million annual referendum that will raise taxes on those in the city in perpetuity. The question will be put to voters on the April 2 ballot. The district claims that, without the passage of the referendum, a 13% cut in schools and a 26% cut in central office administration will be required. Yet the district lacks a clear plan for how the increased spending will be put to work to improve student outcomes.
With nearly 70,000 students, MPS is by far the largest school district in the state. It is also a district where proficiency rates have been abysmal for decades. As such, this referendum request deserves a certain level of scrutiny. In this policy brief, WILL examines a number of different aspects of current spending in MPS to determine if this request for additional funding is truly warranted.