Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, a former public school educator, used his powerful partial veto authorityto extend that provision for 400 years – meaning school districts may raise revenue by that amount each year until 2425.
That funding increase can be filled in by state lawmakers, or by local property taxes. School districts are also not required to increase their levy by the full allowed amount, but most have in response to a variety of financial pressures.
This year, it’s entirely up to property taxes to fund those increases, as the bipartisan 2025-27 state budget did not include an increase to general school aid. The compromise between Evers and Republican lawmakers instead boosted the state’s reimbursement to school districts for special education costs.
In addition to those state budget decisions, voters passed the most school funding referendums in state history in fall 2024, and again approved the majority of school referendums on the ballot in spring 2025. Growth and enrollment in private school voucher programs also contributed to the increase, along with a per-pupil aid bump in the most recent state budget.
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more.
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The damage control on Evers 400 year veto is crazy.
Here are the facts:
-Evers extended revenue limits for 400 years or $325/pupil/year
-Districts can then increasing spending up to that limit WITHOUT a referendum
-Defacto indexing of property taxes into perpetuity without voter approval (unless exceeding limits)
-Without the 400 year veto, future increases would be accountable to voters via referendum.
My assumption is he did this to be in the union’s good graces after signing the largest increase in choice spending since its inception.
Bottom line is that he gloated and thought he was so cool (pic for context) for giving the authority to raise taxes for 400 years.
Maybe rethink that line item veto and bragging about it if you don’t want property tax hikes on democrats.
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Sixty-nine percent of Madison school district voters said, “Tax me harder, daddy!”
One hundred percent of them are suffering the consequences.
madison.com/news/local/gov… via
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Madison taxpayers have long supported far above average (now > $26,000 per student) K-12 tax & spending practices. This, despite long term, disastrous reading results.
Madison Schools: More $, No Accountability
The taxpayer funded Madison School District long used Reading Recovery…
The data clearly indicate that being able to read is not a requirement for graduation at (Madison) East, especially if you are black or Hispanic”
My Question to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Teacher Mulligans and our Disastrous Reading Results
2017: West High Reading Interventionist Teacher’s Remarks to the School Board on Madison’s Disastrous Reading Results
Madison’s taxpayer supported K-12 school district, despite spending far more than most, has long tolerated disastrous reading results.
“An emphasis on adult employment”
Wisconsin Public Policy Forum Madison School District Report[PDF]
WEAC: $1.57 million for Four Wisconsin Senators
Friday Afternoon Veto: Governor Evers Rejects AB446/SB454; an effort to address our long term, disastrous reading results
Booked, but can’t read (Madison): functional literacy, National citizenship and the new face of Dred Scott in the age of mass incarceration.
When A Stands for Average: Students at the UW-Madison School of Education Receive Sky-High Grades. How Smart is That?