(The Center Square) – One Wisconsin Democrat is taking hardline against the state’s governor over the next round of state funding for local schools.
Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, took to social media to push back on Gov. Tony Evers’ latest comments on the state budget.
“I hope the governor finally recognizes that his mostly going along with Republicans on public education for 6 years has only made the problem he inherited worse,” Larson said. “This is the budget to fix that. Our kids can’t afford for us to shortchange them any longer.”
Evers was a guest on UpFront over the weekend, and said he doubts he’ll spend most of the $4 billion state budget surplus on public schools.
The governor’s comments come after State Superintendent Jill Underly asked for at least $3 billion in her budget request.
“We don’t really have a surplus. The state has withheld billions of dollars while forcing a record number of school districts to make up the gap with referendums,” Larson added. “It’s time to fix that. Fund our kids, fund our future.”
Larson has long accused Republican lawmakers of underfunding public schools. He also is a longtime critic of school choice programs throughout the state.
He returned to that criticism Sunday.
“Voucher schools get 90% reimbursement for special education, public schools get 32%,” Larson explained. “My office compiled the data. If the state reimbursed all schools fairly, most of the referendums would not be necessary.”
Republican lawmakers are quick to point-out that Wisconsin public schools have seen more money, year-after-year in the state budget.
And Republicans have said they may look at boosting special education funding in the next state budget, but no one is saying how much more schools may get.
Republicans are due back at the Capitol to begin working on the next two-year state budget in January.
Evers has said he plans to once again ask for more money for public schools, more money for the University of Wisconsin system and more money for Medicaid.
Republican budget leaders have said their top priority is to return the surplus to taxpayers.
