APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Those involved in public education, all across the state, are calling for more funding for K through 12 students in the state budget. The Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee is giving schools $128 million more. But, critics say it’s still not enough.
In a statewide effort, demanding more money for public schools, Fox Cities Advocates for Public Education gathered in downtown Appleton to bring awareness to what they say is an ongoing problem with the education portion of the state budget.
“(The budget) is inadequate for the schools in our opinions. It does not even provide inflationary increases for operated spending,” said Jim Bowman, a coordinator for the rally with Fox Cities Advocates for Public Education.
Coordinators for the rally say the additional $128 million allocated for schools over the next two years is unreasonable. They believe the GOP-controlled budget committee is using federal Covid-relief funding as a reason to give less to schools.
“Covid funds really are meant for Covid expenses and pandemic expenses,” said Marcia Engen, a coordinator with the Fox Cities Advocate for Public Education. “That is not to be used to fund our schools. That’s a state government responsibility.”
But State Sen. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan), a member of the Joint Finance Committee, tells FOX 11 it’s about being responsible with the anticipated $2.6 billion in federal aid.
“They way we’re looking at it is there is on average $2,900 per student increase. This is statewide. But there is a great capacity to do many of the things school districts have had to do during the pandemic, which is virtual school learning, hiring additional aids, additional technology, working on learning loss.”
The committee also cut property taxes levied by schools by $647 million and plans to use state funding to fill the gap. So while property taxes decrease, and spending for schools increases, schools still come out even.
Fox 11 asked, “Is this money being sent directly to the schools that can be spent?”
“The bottom line for answering that question is it’s the same amount of money that’s going into schools for what they can spend whether they’re getting it from the state or getting it from the taxpayer,” said Ballweg.
Members of Fox Cities Advocates for Public Education still see an issue with schools still coming out “even.”
“That kind of fools the public thinking it’s being spent where it is, so I don’t agree with the handling of the Joint Finance Committee,” said Bowman.
The legislature will vote on the budget next. Then it will make its way to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk. Gov. Evers proposed giving K-12 schools $1.6 billion over the next two years.
Comments