CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – Our current state budget includes a record increase in K-12 school funding. You’d think it’s a rare area of agreement for democratic governor Tony Evers and the republican-controlled state legislature.
It isn’t.
Two years ago Evers proposed an even bigger increase in school funding. Twice as large as what made it into the budget. And he went around the state campaigning that Republicans wanted to cut school funding. No, Mr. Evers. They cut the size of your increase. And Republicans, like they often do, lost the messaging battle.
The same thing is happening again. For the upcoming budget, Governor Evers proposes a $2-billion school funding increase. That’s about half of the state’s current surplus. Republicans will certainly trim that number back, and it will be described as a cut instead of a smaller increase.
The Evers proposal is also a shameless bait-and-switch. He proposes a $350-per-pupil finding increase next year, rising to $625 a year later. That increase goes straight onto your property taxl. It’s the amount your school board can raise taxes. And the governor proposes $800-million in additional state aid to offset those tax hikes. What’s the catch? That $800-million runs out after two years. The higher per-pupil spending stays, and will likely increase. Two years from now, you’ll pay for the higher spending.
The legislature should give the governor some of what he wants. New funding for school mental health initiatives is bipartisan, at a reasonable cost of $230-million.
But the legislature needs to get the message right on the rest of the proposal. Governor Evers is proposing permanent school spending increases, offset by temporary state aid. That won’t fly.
Multiply the number of students in your district by $625. That’s how much your school taxes will go up two years from now.
Do the math.
Governor Evers gets an “F”.
Chris Conley
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