Laurie Burgos, Matthew Joynt, Deborah Kerr, Jeffrey Weiss, Todd Alan Price and Cathy Olig
Lawmakers provided $0 in new general school aid over the biennium, a first in modern Wisconsin history. As a result, the majority of districts will receive less state support this year.
State elected officials have knowingly passed the buck to homeowners in the form of local property tax increases when they chose not to adequately fund the state-controlled school finance formula in the current state budget. This month, taxpayers will see the direct impact on their property tax bills.
The state legislature has abandoned Wisconsin’s long-standing commitment to funding two-thirds of public education, shifting more of the cost onto local property taxpayers. Lawmakers provided $0 in new general school aid over the biennium, a first in modern Wisconsin history. As a result, the majority of districts will receive less state support this year, leaving school boards with only two choices: raise local property taxes or make massive cuts to essential educational programs.
Despite historic funding claims from both sides of the aisle, 63% of school districts have held operating referendums in the past three years. Why? Because state investment has not kept up with inflation, and the cost of running a school district has only increased, with double-digit increases in health insurance, utility costs, and the costs of offering highly desired programming such as construction, nursing, and engineering career pathways.
School districts are feeling the effects of inflation, just as manufacturers, farmers, and homeowners are. And unlike the private sector, public schools can’t simply raise prices. Instead, they must reduce costs, meaning a reduced investment in students.
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more.
Madison’s K-12 19.48% Property Tax Growth: Moving forward, though, local officials need to ask tough questions about higher spending