Investing in Wisconsin's Future

MADISON, WI – Yesterday, Republican members scrapped Governor Evers’ $1.4 billion education plan during an executive session of the Joint Committee on Finance (JFC).

In February, Governor Tony Evers introduced the “people’s budget” aimed at helping students succeed across the state. The budget included the Governor’s “Fair Funding for Our Future” plan. This proposal would fix the broken school funding formula that hasn’t worked for Wisconsin students and taxpayers for decades. The Governor’s proposal would have guaranteed a minimum of $3,000 for every student and ensured that no school would lose state aid. Additionally, the Governor’s plan would have returned to two-thirds state funding for public schools and increased sparsity aid to support rural school districts.

Most notably, in response to the number one concern of educators, Governor Evers’ budget would have added a historic $600 million investment for special education. The school districts in the 31st Senate District would have received approximately $25 million in special education aid by 2021. Instead, Republican JFC members approved only $50 million in special education funding – amounting to an 83% cut to the Governor’s proposal.

All Republican members on the Joint Finance Committee voted against Governor Evers’ K-12 education proposal.

Senator Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick) released the following statement:

“The bare minimum shouldn’t be the goal for Wisconsin students and the next generation of our workforce. After eight long years, Governor Tony Evers introduced a budget with incredible potential for Wisconsin students. Their vote shows Republicans are uninterested in moving past a broken school funding model and are satisfied with the inadequate funding for our rural schools and special education aid.

“Communities across the state elected Governor Evers because of his commitment to re-invest in our schools. This is the opportunity to listen and guarantee a bright future for our students.”

A map representing Governor Evers’ special education investments by school district can be found here: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/democrats/media/1940/se_investment.html.

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