A frightening result for taxpayers of the Democrats' sweep of power in Madison is the renewed discussion of repealing the qualified economic offer - the law that caps increases in teachers' pay and benefits in Wisconsin.
Gov. Jim Doyle has said publicly he will seek next year to repeal the QEO, now that Democrats control the Legislature. Repealing the QEO could have a disastrous impact on property taxes in school districts statewide. It should not repealed.
The QEO allows school districts to limit wage-and-benefits increases for teachers at just under 4 percent annually. Because of the rising cost of health insurance, the majority of those increases have gone to teacher benefits instead of salaries.
It is understandable why teachers and their unions would want the QEO repealed. But even with the QEO in place, the gap between district expenses and revenues - which are restricted by state-mandated caps, as well - increases year by year. The result is more and more cash-strapped districts being forced to cut programs or go to referendum to increase property taxes.
A simple solution for school districts would be to repeal or increase the revenue cap along with removing the QEO. But taxpayers would lose, with the mechanism that limits tax increases eliminated.
That's why a simple repeal will not work. Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, earlier this year, proposed an education funding reform package that would give consideration to increasing the QEO limits when districts and teachers agreed to participate in cost-savings and efficiency efforts. That would require concessions from teachers unions.
But if the teachers want the QEO to go, there must be countermeasures that ensure taxpayers won't simply be asked to pay a higher bill.
Gov. Jim Doyle has said publicly he will seek next year to repeal the QEO, now that Democrats control the Legislature. Repealing the QEO could have a disastrous impact on property taxes in school districts statewide. It should not repealed.
The QEO allows school districts to limit wage-and-benefits increases for teachers at just under 4 percent annually. Because of the rising cost of health insurance, the majority of those increases have gone to teacher benefits instead of salaries.
It is understandable why teachers and their unions would want the QEO repealed. But even with the QEO in place, the gap between district expenses and revenues - which are restricted by state-mandated caps, as well - increases year by year. The result is more and more cash-strapped districts being forced to cut programs or go to referendum to increase property taxes.
A simple solution for school districts would be to repeal or increase the revenue cap along with removing the QEO. But taxpayers would lose, with the mechanism that limits tax increases eliminated.
That's why a simple repeal will not work. Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, earlier this year, proposed an education funding reform package that would give consideration to increasing the QEO limits when districts and teachers agreed to participate in cost-savings and efficiency efforts. That would require concessions from teachers unions.
But if the teachers want the QEO to go, there must be countermeasures that ensure taxpayers won't simply be asked to pay a higher bill.
