Property taxpayers should brace themselves, because the state budget Governor Doyle signed in June is about to cause a major shift, from the state to their property tax bill, to pay for K-12 education. Majority legislators failed to prioritize education in a state budget that increased overall spending by 6 percent. Now, local school boards have an unwelcome task - propose painful cuts, increase property taxes to replace lost state aid, or both.
This is a prime reason I sought to change the budget bill and voted "no" when the State Senate approved it. Every legislator paying attention during the budget debate knew if the state failed to meet its obligation to schools, property tax payers would end up footing the bill. Now, it is happening all over Wisconsin.
It's time for new priorities and time to address the failings of our current school finance system. Yes, prioritizing K-12 education may mean more cuts to other state programs. Yes, school funding reform will take cooperation from Governor Doyle and leaders in the Democrat-controlled State Senate and State Assembly. But without reform, property taxes will keep rising and education quality will suffer.
I want to debate our state spending priorities. I want to debate how we end the constant shift of state mandates to the property tax rolls. I want to debate the best way to improve education. We should start by pooling ideas from organizations like Wisconsin Way and the School Finance Network. Neither plan is perfect, but they provide a starting point for change.
This is a prime reason I sought to change the budget bill and voted "no" when the State Senate approved it. Every legislator paying attention during the budget debate knew if the state failed to meet its obligation to schools, property tax payers would end up footing the bill. Now, it is happening all over Wisconsin.
It's time for new priorities and time to address the failings of our current school finance system. Yes, prioritizing K-12 education may mean more cuts to other state programs. Yes, school funding reform will take cooperation from Governor Doyle and leaders in the Democrat-controlled State Senate and State Assembly. But without reform, property taxes will keep rising and education quality will suffer.
I want to debate our state spending priorities. I want to debate how we end the constant shift of state mandates to the property tax rolls. I want to debate the best way to improve education. We should start by pooling ideas from organizations like Wisconsin Way and the School Finance Network. Neither plan is perfect, but they provide a starting point for change.
