Rural School Districts: There's Nothing Left to Squeeze

Starving Public Education

Source:  Wisconsin Budget Project

Dozens of rural school districts put high-stakes tax hikes to voters.   26 cash-strapped districts are asking to raise property taxes.  (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/30/2014)

Once again, Republicans give lip service to their principle of local control.   Then the controversial Act 10 legislation signed by Gov. Scott Walker in 2011 decreased state aid but restricted districts from raising property taxes to make up for the budget shortfall. Instead, the legislation allowed districts more flexibility to get savings from employees, such as by changing health care plans or adjusting salaries. 

But rural leaders say they've done all that. 

2014 school referendums:  

• Delavan-Darien
• Denmark
• Fort Atkinson
• Green Bay
• Howard-Suamico
• Kettle Moraine
• La Crosse
• Lodi
• Luck
• Markesan
• Menasha
• Monticello
• Oshkosh
• Owen-Withehe
• Pardeeville
• Parkview
• Prescott
• Princeton
• St. Croix Falls
• Sauk Prairie
• Sheboygan Falls
• Siren
• Wabeno