Senate Candidates Lasee and Elmer On School Funding

Frank Lasee

http://www.franklasee.org

Frank Lasee

920.327.0585

Education is a priority and our taxes reflect this. On average, about half of our property tax bill and more than 40 percent of state taxes go to public schools. And, as a result, we are spending an average of $13,000 per student per year on K-12 education.

In the past, groups created to advocate for “reform” of the school funding system become dominated by public school insiders who are looking to get more tax money into the system, this means raising our taxes. Now is not the time to raise taxes on our fragile economy, strapped families or challenged businesses.

Changing the school funding formula is a difficult undertaking because of the diversity of school districts, money sources and the large amount of tax money being spent. Changing the formula creates winners and losers. The next legislature needs to be focused on our economy and getting Wisconsin working again, so our graduating students can get jobs here.

Dr. Montgomery “Monk” Elmer

There are three commitments I make regarding proposed school funding formula changes. One, I am open to and will examine in detail any proposed changes, and will seek the input of the affected school districts and taxpayers. Second, I will oppose raising taxes on our struggling families and businesses. Third, I will support changes that benefit the students and taxpayers of the 1st Senate District.

Dr. Montgomery “Monk” Elmer

http://www.votemonkelmer.org

920.379.7734

Investing in the education of our children needs to be a top priority for our state. The state should continue to fund two-thirds of the K-12 system until the funding formula is revamped. It helps hold down property taxes and helps make sure our local schools have the resources they need to provide a quality education.

The school funding proposals by the School Finance Network and the recent proposal by Superintendent Evers provide a roadmap for a new funding formula. Some of the funding for education can come from closing corporate tax loopholes and eliminating tax breaks for companies that do not keep jobs in the state. Having a minimum level of state aid per pupil regardless of where they live and allocating the School Levy Tax credit, valued at $900 million, to general school aids is a worthwhile option to consider.

At Kimberly, we have focused on academics and cost control. We are in the lowest 10 percent of per pupil spending in the state, while our academic achievement was recently recognized by Newsweek magazine as being one of the top high schools in the country. That is the type of focus we need in Madison. We need to redo our school funding formula to equalize the costs across the state while we bring up the quality of that education to a world-class level.