The process for creating the next state biennial budget is underway in Madison. Lawmakers will be working over the next few months to determine how the State of Wisconsin will allocate funding for the next two years. Budgets are about priorities, and now is a critical time to contact state legislators and let them know about the importance of making a greater investment in our public schools.
The current system for funding public education in Wisconsin has a few big problems that need to be addressed in the next state budget. Inequitable revenue limits, inadequate funding for special education, and a reliance on referendums to fund basic operations have forced many school districts- including the School District of the Menomonie Area (SDMA)- to do more with less. Now is the time to contact state legislators and ask them to fix these problems!
Since the early 1990’s, inequitable revenue limits have created a big disparity in how much funding school districts across Wisconsin are allowed per student (see chart here). Even within the Big Rivers Conference, some school districts are allowed approximately 12% more per student than others. If Menomonie’s revenue limit was the same as some other school districts in the conference, the SDMA would have about $4 million more to operate our schools.
According to the Association for Equity in Funding, state and federal funding covers less than half of the costs for educating children with special needs in Wisconsin. This results in school districts needing to reallocate a significant amount of funding from the regular education budget (see chart here). With 17% of Menomonie students having a disability, the SDMA is forced to transfer about $5 million each year to cover underfunded expenses in the special education budget. As noted in a recent resolution from the SDMA Board of Education, an increase in state funding for special education services would reduce the general fund transfer and allow more funding to be available for all SDMA students (see Board resolution here).
Inadequate special education funding and revenue limits that have not kept up with inflation have led to a record number of school referendums in Wisconsin over the past few years. Despite a multi-billion dollar state budget surplus in Madison, school districts across the state are having to choose between major budget cuts or asking voters to raise local property taxes to make up for the state funding shortfalls. This has created a school funding system that is unpredictable and unsustainable for Wisconsin schools.
The Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) has made it easy for Wisconsinites to provide input on the state budget. Please take this opportunity to make your voice heard! State budget feedback can be shared online through the JFC’s Public Comment Form, and contact information for local legislators and members of the JFC is posted on the Wisconsin State Legislature Website.
If school families or community members have any questions or concerns about the school district, please do not hesitate to email ([email protected]), call (715-232-1642 ext. 11111), or visit with me at the Administrative Service Center on Pine Avenue.
Joe Zydowsky is SDMA Superintendent.
