Wisconsin’s poorer school districts could take a harder hit under new budget

Talk about it

Wisconsin’s poorer school districts could be hit harder than richer ones under the new state budget.

The poorest districts generally get bigger percentages of their budgets in state aid, which would be cut 2.5 percent to help cover the state’s deficit.

Also, schools face possible increases in teacher salaries under the proposed repeal of the QEO, which is the state’s limit on compensation.

Todd Berry of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance says the double-impact could cause some small, shrinking school districts to dissolve and all school boards would have less control over their finances.

The QEO is credited with keeping teacher salaries in check.

But Senate Education Committee chairman John Lehman of Racine says it’s not fair to educators and this could be the only chance Democrats have to dump the 16-year-old provision.

Many schools are getting federal stimulus cash, but there are limits on how it can be spent.

The state’s school revenue limits would go up by just more than 2 percent, thus giving districts the chance to raise local property taxes.

But John Ashley of the state Association of School Boards says many small-town schools believe the changes could be the formula for a decrease in public support for schools.

That’s because the school tax represents a higher percentage of local taxes in smaller areas.

Tags: school districts, state budget, wisconsin, poorer