by Kerry Thomas
September 30, 2008
Contrary to popular opinion,
Wisconsin does not have a school funding crisis. What we have is a problem with school spending.
Between 2000 and 2006, statewide
spending in Wisconsin’s schools increased from $7,579,676,597 to
$9,976,878,048, an increase of 31.63%.
Total funding increased at all levels of government, local (up 41.19%),
state (up 21.36%) and federal (up 70.09%).
During that same time period, student enrollment went from 877,348 to
874,098, a decrease in enrollment of 0.37%.
Statewide, per-student spending increased from $8,639 to
$11,414, up 32.12%. The number of
teachers increased from 67,243 to 67,984 (up 1.10%). Student-to-teacher ratios went from 13.05 to 12.86 (down 1.46%).
Figures for Vilas
County schools reflect these trends.
Average school spending increased from $7,121,991 to $8,911,619 (up
21,84%). Average student enrollment
declined from 639 to 560 (down 11.52%).
Average per-student spending rose from $12,493 to $16,792 (up
38.06%). Average student-to-teacher
ratios went from 10.54 to 9.83 (down 5.13%).
Oneida
County saw average school spending rise from $13,248,165 to $16,528,772 (up
28.28%). Average student enrollment
went from 1,464 to 1,299 (down 10.74%).
Average per-student spending went from $9,299 to $13,300 (up
44.24%). Average student-to-teacher
ratios went from 13.18 to 12.55 (down 4.77%).
A July 22, 2008 report from the Wisconsin Taxpayers
Alliance found that while gross property taxes rose 6.2%, the Wisconsin
legislature increased the school levy credit $79.3 million, to $672.4
million. Net property taxes in
Wisconsin rose 5.7% in 2008, the largest increase since 2005, the year before
the recent levy limits on municipalities and counties were imposed.
When the Wisconsin legislature enacted limitations on tax
levy increases, in response to abusive and irresponsible spending hikes by
local officials year after year, they also included a mechanism by which tax
levies could be increased.
One of the founding beliefs the American colonists had was
no taxation without representation. All
local government officials have to do is ask their local taxpayers if they
think spending increases are justified.
Fiscally-responsible tax referenda pass.
In just the last year, Wisconsin’s tax burden rose
from 12.1% to 12.3% of personal income.
Governor Doyle and his free-spending liberal friends in Madison think
they know how to spend your money better than you do.
There is no law stopping you from writing a check to help
supplement your favorite government spending program. If you think you’re not paying enough in taxes, if you think your
taxes should be higher, fine. You go
first.
It comes down to the age-old arguments. Democrats want to increase your taxes and
spend your money for you. Republicans
think you should have a say in the matter.
(Source material from http://www.legis.state.wi.us/assembly/asm02/news/schoolspending.html)