“NoVouchers” group forms to stop expansion of taxpayer-funded vouchers for private schools in ruralNorthern Wisconsin

On Monday a grassroots coalition calling itself “NoVouchers” announced its volunteer members will be working to stop the expansion of taxpayer-funded vouchers for private schools in rural communities in Northern Wisconsin.

“Our group calculated that the cost of funding vouchers for private school students just in Merrill, Wausau, Green Bay and Eau Claire could cost taxpayers – at minimum — an additional $25.8 million every year”, said group founder Pam Kobielus, adding that the annual cost of vouchers statewide has been estimated at $1.2 billion for the 2014-2015 school year.

According to information provided by NoVouchers, for the period from 2001-2014 private school enrollment in Green Bay actually fell 44.9% while public school enrollment rose 3.1%. Since taking office Gov. Scott Walker has slashed funding for public education, leaving school districts like Green Bay to serve a larger population with a smaller amount of funding. As the graph below demonstrates, private school enrollment has actually decreased in Wausau, Merrill, Green Bay, and Eau Claire, and siphoning more money out of the public school system in order to divert it to vouchers for private schools will have a tremendously negative impact on those school districts.

Image courtesy NoVouchers
Image courtesy NoVouchers

Here’s more from NoVouchers.

With a projected budget deficit of $1.8 billion, and, with a projected cost of an additional $1.2 billion to lift voucher caps statewide, the argument could certainly be made that this will trigger another “Budget Repair Bill” (required by law once a $79 million figure is reached).

Given this possible scenario, public school parents in rural Northern Wisconsin are now starting to ask the question: Where will up to $3.0 billion in cuts come from in the General Budget? And, if budget cuts aren’t enough, whose taxes will be going up?

Parents are finally seeing the writing on the wall. Lifting voucher caps in rural Wisconsin communities – effectively forcing taxpayers to fund two separate school systems – puts at risk the education of children in public schools and places a much greater burden on local communities’ property tax structure.

As you may know, in 2014 Wisconsin taxpayers funded private school education by giving parents of private school students – statewide – a very large deduction on their annual income taxes. These amounts are up to $4,000 per child per year (grades K-8), and up to $10,000 per child per year (grades 9-12). This taxpayer “gift” to private school parents costs the State of Wisconsin lost tax revenue on average of $240 for each elementary school student and $600 for each high school student.

On top of this, Gov. Walker now wants to give private schools $6,500 of your taxpayer money for each student applicant – every year. Remember, the annual cost of vouchers statewide has been estimated at $1.2 billion for 2014-2015. Think about that. That’s $1.2 billion more each and every year to support a second school system that is not accountable to taxpayers!

It’s alarming to finally learn the cost of expanding vouchers statewide when Wisconsin already faces an unplanned $1.8 billion deficit. Perhaps this is why Gov. Walker has not told taxpayers where he will make cuts to offset the significant costs he’ll be incurring to maintain a separate school system for a very small percentage of students. As public school parents and taxpayers, we believe the time is now to strongly object to actions that will, in all likelihood, negatively impact your child’s public school education. Remember, about 9 of 10 students are public school students. You ARE the majority. And you do have a voice.

We believe school vouchers are unsustainable. We hope that you agree.

Will you take a stand to say: “I object to voucher schools”?

Please send an email or make a phone call today. It’s really important your legislator hears from you personally!

MERRILL
Rep.Czaja@legis.wisconsin.gov (608-266-7694)
Sen.Tiffany@legis.wisconsin.gov (608-266-2509)

WAUSAU
Rep.Wright@legis.wisconsin.gov (608) 266-0654 or (888) 534-0085
Sen.Petrowski@legis.wisconsin.gov (608) 266-2502

GREEN BAY
Rep.Genrich@legis.wisconsin.gov (608) 266-0616 or (888) 534-0090
Sen.Cowles@legis.wisconsin.gov (800) 334-1465
Sen.Hansen@legis.wisconsin.gov (608) 266-5670

EAU CLAIRE
Rep.Wachs@legis.wisconsin.gov (608) 266-7461 or (888) 534-0091
Sen.Vinehout@legis.wisconsin.gov (608) 266-8546

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