Senate, Assembly Democrats: Call for Timetable on School Funding Reform

3/1/2006

CONTACT:
Sen. Breske
608-266-2509
Rep. Pope- Roberts
608-266-3520
Rep. Toles
608-266-5580
Rep. Lehman
608-266-0634
Rep. Sherman
608-266-7690

Assembly and Senate Democrats Want New Funding Formula by June of 2007

MADISON – A group of Democratic lawmakers unveiled a timeline for reworking the Wisconsin school funding formula at a Capitol news conference today. The school financing system has long been criticized for inequities that treat rural school districts unfairly. In addition a state Supreme Court ruling, Vincent v. Voight, has also directed the legislature to equalize the funding formula.

“Our schools throughout the state are in crisis mode,” said Representative Lehman (D-Racine). “They’re getting attacked from all sides, be it for property taxes, for accountability, or for quality education. These problems face every school district in the state from Kenosha to Superior.”

Under the resolution, the school financing system must find a way to provide an adequate education to all pupils in the state regardless of their circumstances or regional differences. Supporters of the resolution were hoping for a public hearing sometime soon.

“We owe it to our property owners to establish what a quality education is and to guarantee that adequate funding will be there to prepare the next generation for life, regardless of whether they go on to college, into the workforce or the military,” affirmed Representative Pope-Roberts (D-Verona).

Last fall, the near dissolution of the Florence County School District illuminated the crisis facing schools in Wisconsin. Florence, in the end, passed a referendum that will keep them in the black for the next five years. However, there is every likelihood that several other school districts will be in the same situation very soon.

“The outdated formula uses property values to equalize state aid over 426 school districts. But vacation homes and large tracts of untaxable land are inflating property values in areas where household incomes are barely above poverty level,” Senator Breske (D-Eland) said. “Skyrocketing property taxes are forcing grandparents to choose between their grandchildren’s future and their homes.”

“Declining enrollment has quickly become a reality for a majority of districts in Wisconsin over the last few years. Basing revenue limits on a per-pupil factor places a price tag on students,” Representative Sherman (D-Port Wing) commented. “For small, rural, schools who have consolidated everything they can, counting bodies does not ensure that the students’ basic needs are met, especially given the high operating costs driven by gas and heating fuel, among others.”

“Our focus, first and last, must be on the students,” Representative Toles (D-Milwaukee). “Each district has unique needs. Whereas rural districts face high transportation costs, Milwaukee schools are less concerned with transportation and more concerned with their demanding population of special needs students with physical, learning and social needs. We must ensure that an adequate education is available, but also that flexibility is retained so that districts can truly meet the needs of their students.”

Posted by Lucy Mathiak at March 2, 2006 9:45 AM
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