Wisconsin DPI Superintendent Tony Evers (running for re-election in 2013) Proposes New State Tax $ Redistribution Scheme

Jennifer Zahn and Erin Richards:

State Superintendent Tony Evers on Monday reintroduced a proposal from two years ago to increase state funding for public education and change the way the state finances its public schools as part of his 2013-'15 budget request.

The proposal calls for a 2.4% increase in state aid in the first year of the budget and a 5.5% increase in 2014-'15, which Evers said would put the state back on track to return to two-thirds' state support for public school costs by 2017.

The Department of Public Instruction's 2013-'15 budget proposal guarantees state funding of $3,000 per pupil and would result in every school district either getting more state money or the same money as before, but Republican legislators on Monday did not express confidence in the total package.

Luther Olsen, chair of the Senate Education Committee and a Republican from Ripon, said Evers' "Fair Funding for our Future" plan just shifts money around between districts and doesn't really award more money to schools.

Olsen did say he would like to increase districts' revenue limit authority per student - or the combined amount they can raise in state general aid and local property taxes - by at least $200 per pupil starting in the first year of the next biennial budget.

Evers announced his 2013-'15 state public education budget request Monday at Irving Elementary School in West Allis.

Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said the proposal will be reviewed in the context of the overall budget, but said education is one of Walker's top budget priorities.

"The governor will work to build off of the work done with Superintendent Evers on school district accountability and Read to Lead as he creates the first version of the state budget, which will be introduced early next year," Werwie said.

Evers also said he'll run for re-election next year, adding that despite the funding cuts, he's excited to continue pushing reform and accountability.

"In order for us to create a new middle class and to move our state forward in a positive way, our public schools need to be strong, and the reforms we're implementing now are going a long way toward accomplishing that," Evers said. "We're in a great place as a state and we'll keep plugging away."

Various conservative education sources said no candidate has come forward to challenge Evers yet, but talks were ongoing with potential challengers. Nomination papers can be circulated Dec. 1 and are due back to the GAB Jan. 2.

Matthew DeFour has more.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at November 13, 2012 1:30 AM
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