A majority (58%) says that it is more important to reduce property taxes than to increase funding for K-12 schools (42%).
Between 50% and 60% have said property taxes are more important in 11 Marquette Law School Poll surveys since June 2023. Prior to that, a majority said that school funding was more important in 16 polls from April 2015 through October 2022.
While voters think reducing property taxes should be a priority, 47% say schools are getting too little funding from the state, 39% say there is enough state funding, and 14% say schools are getting more than is needed.
Opinion is divided on Gov. Tony Evers’ 2024 partial veto which required increases in per-pupil spending limits for the next 400 years. Forty-eight percent say this was necessary to support schools, while 51% say this will mean tax increases for centuries. Partisans are sharply divided on this, with 86% of Republicans saying this will require continuing tax increases and 89% of Democrats saying it was necessary to support schools. Independents are evenly divided, with 46% saying it is necessary and 46% saying it requires ongoing tax increases.
Among registered voters, 53% say they are very or somewhat satisfied with the job their local public schools are doing, while 46% are very or somewhat dissatisfied. Satisfaction declined from a high of 81% in March 2013 to a stable range of 60% to 69% from 2021 to February 2026. Satisfaction has declined from 64% in February this year to 59% in March, to 55% in July, and to 53% in August.
Sixty percent say public schools need to be held more accountable for student performance, while 40% say the schools are doing the best they can with the resources they have.
Opinion is close to evenly divided on the school voucher program that provides state funding for students to attend private or religious schools, as 48% would like to see the voucher program eliminated and 51% want to see it continued. Partisan differences are substantial, but not as large on this issue as on some others, with 68% of Republicans favoring continuing the voucher program and 68% of Democrats wanting the program eliminated. Independents are nearly evenly divided, with 49% favoring continuation and 50% favoring elimination of vouchers.
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53% say they are very or somewhat satisfied with the job their local public schools are doing. Satisfaction hit a high of 81% in March 2013 and was between 60% and 69% from 2021 to February 2026. Satisfaction has declined steadily since then. #mulawpoll
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2026-2027 Madison K-12 $pending continues to grow, fueled by a 9.7% (!) property tax increase. Total spending will be at least $706,000,000 for 25,003 students, or $28,236 per student. More.
