WI: School tax levies rise 7.3% in state

This story in today's JS Online reports that property tax levies by school districts will increase an average of 7.3%. This is more than double the rate of inflation. The story goes on to address some of the factors that have led districts to this 'need'. In addition, it quotes John Gard (R-Peshtigo) as saying his number one priority is to get a tax freeze bill passed in the next session, to end this. Everyone is pointing fingers - and they're all right. What they need to do is turn the finger around:

"Many involved in the school finance scene point to the decision by the governor and state Legislature two years ago to back away from the decade-old commitment to providing, on average, two-thirds of the money for general local school spending as the cause of the property tax increases now.

State Sen. Michael Ellis (R-Neenah) said: 'As the state goes south on participating (in paying for schools), the levy has to go north.' He predicted that, if nothing changes, levies in the next years will increase by 10% or more annually.

School officials also note that not only are they getting squeezed by a drop in the level of state aid, but they also have to cope with rising expenses, particularly the cost of health insurance for employees.

Stan Johnson, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state teachers
union, said leaders need to have 'some kind of discussion very soon' about how to fund schools in ways that maintain their quality."

We need to be grown-ups about this. We've created - or allowed to be created - a system that is almost unaccountable to anyone. As with most publicly run programs, politicians and bureaucrats have turned schools into the proverbial 'football' that they all use for personal gain.

We are far from unique in Wisconsin. The courts in New York have just ruled that funding for schools in New York city alone, have been under funded by $5.6 billion a year! What they haven't reported is, where the funding would go, what it would be used for, and ultimately, who'd pay for it.

Right now, we have no one representing us on either side with any objectivity. The schools are represented by the unions and administrators who don't believe there should be ANY limits to what we spend. After all, it's for the children.

On the other side, we have the politicians who are trying to make points with their constituents by 'freezing taxes' through a bill or state constitutional amendment. This will not solve the problem, but may get them re-elected.

Schools are important. They are necessary for our state and country to continue to be competitive and successful in the world - now and in the future. It is our responsibility as tax-payers to fund public schools because we all benefit from the product.

Schools must become more responsible. Just as it is the public's responsibility to fund schools, it is the school's responsibility to produce a product that meets the public need at a competitive cost. For too long, schools have evolved to focus more on the social needs of students, rather than the intellectual needs. It has been far more important to reward self-esteem, than results.

This focus has been a windfall for schools. Special needs programs have historically exceeded general funding increases over the last decade or so. Federal and State dollars have provided 'bonuses' to districts for special needs students - thereby incenting districts to redefine and attract (recruit) more special needs students. What is happening in our country that we are producing this ever increasing number of 'special needs' children?

Additionally, the story in the paper this morning quotes school officials who point to rising costs in health insurance as a major factor in the need for increased funding. First, this does nothing to increase the results - children who are better educated. Second, a major reason health care costs are out of line in Wisconsin schools is because they do not seek competitive bids - they self-insure. And finally, most private businesses have chosen to bite-the-bullet and ask their employees to contribute more to the cost of insurance and medical costs. Schools, with very rare exceptions, refuse to do so.

There is more than enough blame to go around and even more difficult decisions which must be made. Unfortunately, we don't have enough leaders - on either side - to take on the tough decisions. It's far easier to point fingers and promote band-aid 'solutions' like tax freezes. Schools happen to be the largest, single consumer of tax dollars, but all departments, agencies and tax funded programs could reduce costs as part of the solution. The vast majority of tax payers are more than willing to pay their share - when they believe they are getting what they pay for. Right now, we don't.