The recent state budget did little for public schools, except to guarantee an increase in your property taxes. Don’t be fooled when you hear that the state budget provides a $1.4 billion increase for K-12 public schools.
More than half of the $1.4 billion will be paid by your property taxes. Because the state provided ZERO increase in state aid, despite having a $4-plus billion surplus, the allowable increase of $325 per pupil goes on your property tax bill. Your taxes will also fund the huge increase in private school vouchers, about $800 million a year, with no public transparency or accountability, including no school-wide report cards.
Less than half of the $1.4 billion is for increased funding for special education. The reimbursement rate for public schools will be upped to 45% in year two of the budget. This funding increase will benefit all students because districts will have to transfer less from their general fund to cover mandated services.
The special education increase is much appreciated, but still woefully inadequate. At one time, it was 70%. The private school special needs voucher is reimbursed at 90%.
This budget makes it 18 years that public schools are funded less than inflation. We have failed an entire generation of students.
What’s next? More cuts. Increased class sizes. Fewer student services. Fewer educational opportunities. Difficulty attracting teachers. And certainly, more referenda.
It’s time for a lawsuit to ensure that kids are provided with the public education guaranteed in the Wisconsin Constitution.
Carol Lenz,
Appleton
Tips for getting your letter to the editor published
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Write: Letters to the editor, The Post-Crescent, P.O. Box 59, Appleton, WI 54912. E-mail: pcletters@postcrescent.com.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: LETTERS: Appleton reader sees need for more public school funding from state
Reporting by Appleton Post-Crescent / Appleton Post-Crescent
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