WESTON, WI (WSAU) — Governor Scott Walker brought his hopes for the state’s “Reform Dividend” to Mountain Bay Elementary School in Weston on Tuesday.
When the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee announced they were scrapping Walker’s transportation funding plan, they did not touch the other elements of his budget presentation. He takes that as a good sign.
Walker said, “That means, I believe, that the investments we’re making in K-12 education are likely to stay as is, and that’s a huge win for schools all across the state of Wisconsin if [the legislature]’s going to stick with our budget.”
Walker’s budget priorities remain giving more funding to the UW System as well, and keeping the legislature from increasing the gas tax to pay for road construction.
“I think at a time when we have such a large reform dividend, now is not the time to raise taxes on anything, whether it’s on gas, farmers, manufacturers, I just don’t think we should be raising taxes at all on the hard working people of this state,” said Walker.
Governor Walker also supported eliminating required hours in a school year, which can extend the school year for districts who have too many snow days, saying that parents care more about the quality of their child’s education than the amount of time they spend in the classroom.
