This post originally appeared at https://reforminggovernment.org/education-watch-governor-evers-k-12-veto-adults-over-children/

From the Wisconsin State Journal: “Under the budget Evers signed, schools would be allowed to raise revenue by $325 per student per year until 2425. Given current public school enrollment levels, that’s over a $260 million increase per year.

To make the change, Evers used his partial veto to [make] ‘for the 2023-24 school year and the 2024-25 school year’ became ‘for 2023-2425.’” Doing so will raise voucher and charter payments as well. Read more here.

Additional context from IRG Senior Research Director Quinton Klabon:

• “Revenue limits” are how much a district can spend per student through a combination of general aid from the state and local property taxes. If your district has a high limit but not a lot of state help, your school board may choose to raise property taxes. 2023’s limit per student was $11,888.18, or about $300,000 per 25-student classroom.
• However, targeted state aid and all federal aid are NOT included, being added on top. 2023’s total revenue per member was $16,859.56, or $420,000 per classroom. (1-time pandemic relief boosted this higher.)
• Governor Evers’ actions serve adults at the expense of the most struggling students. These permanent increases crowd out future legislatures’ ability to put more toward targeted aid like special needs. Instead of funding schools based on what students need to thrive, Governor Evers provided an across-the-board increase that will raise taxes on the suburbs, squeeze rural and urban budgets, and allow districts to hold their 1:7.3 staff-to-student ratio.