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A proposal to freeze property taxes would "return Wisconsin to the Ice Age," WEAC President Stan Johnson said.
Johnson said the proposal announced Thursday (May 22, 2003) by Assembly Republicans is a shortsighted and simplistic plan that would harm Wisconsin’s great schools and the quality education children now receive.
The plan, which would be added to the 2003-05 state budget bill, calls for all taxing units (including K-12 schools and technical colleges) to freeze property taxes for two years.
Local taxing authorities would be able to accommodate new construction and growth, and local tax units could bypass the freeze through referendum.
“School districts have been living under a freeze - state-imposed revenue controls and the Qualified Economic Offer law - for the last 10 years,” Johnson said. “The Legislature has forced schools to make severe budget cuts. More forced reductions will eliminate essential programs and services for Wisconsin’s children. Even in difficult fiscal times, our children deserve to attend great schools that have great teachers and staff. Now the Legislature wants to inflict the same pain on all units of government. This is bad public policy.”
Johnson called on the Joint Finance Committee and Legislature to endorse Gov. Jim Doyle’s budget plan.
“Gov. Doyle was able to increase funding for our great schools while balancing the budget,” Johnson said. “Our public schools are an investment worth preserving.”
Johnson said the idea of a freeze may sound appealing on the surface, but it would spell disaster for all local units of government, not just schools.
“A property tax freeze may make a good headline, but it is not good for the children of Wisconsin,” he said. “It will force dramatic cuts in services and programs that directly affect all state residents.”
Johnson encouraged WEAC members to contact their legislators and urge them to oppose the property tax freeze proposal, and to support repeal of the Qualified Economic Offer law.
WEAC members: Let your legislators know how you feel about a property tax freeze. Go to the OnWEAC Cyberlobby on the Members Only site and send them an e-mail now.
Coalition blasts property tax freeze plan
Resource page on the Qualified Economic
Offer law
Resource page on the 2003-05 state budget
Posted May 23, 2003