(The Center Square) – The latest conversation about rising property taxes in Wisconsin has nothing to do with Gov. Tony Evers’ 400-year veto.
The Institute for Reforming Government has accused the Wisconsin Association of School Boards of refusing to lower property taxes by voting against the latest decoupling plan at the state capitol.
“School board members from across the state met in Milwaukee this week and officially agreed to advocate against decoupling school choice funding,” IRG said in a statement.
Decoupling would separate state support for choice schools and traditional public schools. In addition to making it easier to track which school gets what, IRG said decoupling could lower property taxes.
“Instead of separating district and choice, the state deducts state funding from your local district for choice students. District students do not lose a single dollar, but your district makes up the difference by raising property taxes,” IRG said. “Proponents say Wisconsin should ‘decouple.’ Districts could lower their property taxes. [And] Families could choose schools that best fit them, supported by the state.”
The WASB didn’t offer any explanation for its opposition to decoupling. The official resolution on the question is locked behind a members-only firewall. But as recently as 2004, there was some support for decoupling among WASB members.
IRG accused the Association of School Boards of “pitting” Wisconsin schools against each other.
“Why would they do this? First, members argue it makes voucher funding transparent. Of course, you can easily see exactly how much choice funding is right now, a fraction of the ~$16 billion Wisconsin spends on education. Second, members argue it uses limited state aid,” IRG added in a statement. “Sadly, Wisconsin’s declining youth population – the fewest publicly funded students since 1996 – has made it easier, not harder, to pay for schools. Third, members argue for higher property taxes to remind voters they are paying for choice schools.”
