'That was some BS': Democrats, teacher unions unhappy with school funding compromise
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Ahead of a vote Wednesday on a sweeping package to help Milwaukee resolve its pension crisis and provide more aid to local governments, some teacher unions are calling on Governor Tony Evers to reject the deal that's part of a border package to increase school funding.
The deal Gov. Evers, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu agreed to would give every municipality a minimum increase of 20% in state aid, invest more in public and private schools, and add a new sales tax for Milwaukee and Milwaukee County.
Wisconsin school choice advocates praised the plan to increase voucher payments from $8,399 to $9,500 for K-8 students and $9,045 to $12,000 per high school student.
Meanwhile, some Wisconsin teacher unions slammed the proposal that would give $1 billion to K-12 public schools, which amounts to a $325 per pupil increase.
The Wisconsin Education Association Council and the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association said the agreement is a bad deal and called on Gov. Evers to veto the bill in its entirety. MTEA believes the additional voucher school funding should instead go toward public schools.
The Wisconsin Public Education Network also criticized the investment, saying it is not enough to keep up with the pace of inflation.
"Anything less than at least an inflationary increase in public schools' spending ability is unacceptable," said Christian Phelps, a spokesman for the Wisconsin Public Education Network. "It's just very disappointing that kids in public schools would have to be a negotiating wedge."
The package also includes $30 million for mental health services in schools and $50 million for literacy programs. Schools could also reimburse a third of their district's special education cost.
Britt Cudaback, a spokeswoman for Gov. Evers, defended his work to increase per pupil aid by more than $300 per student and make historic investments, including the first increase in special education aid in a decade.
"Gov. Evers last week secured the highest annual revenue limit increase for K-12 schools in state history, investments to expand school-based mental health services, and millions in support for improving reading outcomes and literacy," Cudaback said.
"Gov. Evers has spent his career working for our kids and our schools, and he will keep working to do the right thing for Wisconsin by doing what’s best for our kids."
The Joint Finance Committee advanced the bill, including a proposal to overhaul funding to local governments Tuesday. Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) joined Republicans on the committee voting in favor of the bill, but she said some strong words for how the deal was struck.
"I am sitting here today to say I am going to vote for this bill because it is my honor to do what's right by our kids, but I also want to say that was some bull****," Johnson said. "It is something that should never, ever happen in this Capitol. We should never use our kids as a pawn."
Johnson said it was ridiculous Evers had to negotiate more money for school vouchers to save Milwaukee and Milwaukee County from insolvency. Last week, GOP leaders threatened to remove the Milwaukee sales tax provision if Evers didn't agree to their final offer, which was negotiated for weeks behind closed doors.
The Assembly and Senate are scheduled to vote on the sweeping agreement Wednesday.