Doyle Says TABOR 'Threatens Education in Our State'

The following message is being sent out by Governor Doyle in response to e-mails he receives about the Taxpayer Bill of Rights:

Dear Friend:

You contacted me previously to express your support for public education, so I thought you would appreciate an update on the so-called "Taxpayers Bill of Rights" (TABOR) that threatens education in our state. I appreciate your support on this issue.

Numerous citizens across our state oppose this ill-conceived constitutional amendment. In addition to TABOR, it also appears that Republican legislators may again propose the property tax "freeze" similar to the one I vetoed last year because it represented a $400 million cut to education, would force thousands of Wisconsin teachers to be fired, would cripple police and fire services across the state, and would put local economic development efforts on hold.

The Republican TABOR proposal is based on an amendment that was approved several years ago in Colorado and has had a devastating effect on the quality of life in that state.

In Colorado, 100,000 senior citizens actually lost property tax exemptions because of mandated cuts under TABOR, and investments in education at all levels plummeted, making Colorado among the lowest of the 50 states in access to quality public education. Colorado rates significantly below Wisconsin on most education measures with lower ACT test scores, higher class sizes, lower high school graduation rates, and lower teacher salaries. One-quarter of their school districts are on a four-day school week because of budget cuts.

Toll roads were built in Colorado just to maintain highways that were neglected under TABOR, and more tolls are being considered. While Wisconsin is second in the nation in providing health care coverage for children, Colorado is 42nd and just eliminated coverage for 15,000 more kids.

TABOR would seriously undermine our efforts to grow Wisconsin and create jobs. New tax credits intended to increase venture capital investments and to help modernize dairy farms likely would not be possible. Tax Incremental Financing (TIF), a program that enables local governments to pursue economic development efforts and has increased the value of property in Wisconsin by $6.5 billion since the 1970s, would also be jeopardized under TABOR. TABOR would increase the cost of health care for businesses and individuals.

Groups from across the political spectrum know that TABOR would have a devastating impact on our quality of life and so they oppose it. The State Medical Society, Wisconsin Hospital Association, the AARP Wisconsin, the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, Wisconsin Laborers District Council, carpenters, electrical workers, the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, Professional Firefighters, county police officers, school teachers, and many others oppose it.

This widespread opposition is clear evidence that this amendment is a bad idea for Wisconsin, as is any attempt to resurrect the so-called freeze legislation that I vetoed last year. I hope you will again join me in telling legislators to reject bumper-sticker politics and join me in doing the important work of supporting measures that will improve the quality of life in Wisconsin.

I made tough decisions last year when I proposed and signed a state budget with no tax increases. Following my lead, local officials gave us municipal levy increases this year that were the lowest in 14 years, and school district levy increases that were the lowest in four years.

As I have said from day one, I believe that property taxes are too high in Wisconsin. Like you, however, I cannot support political gimmicks that will harm Wisconsin's future.

It is a privilege to serve as Governor of the great state of Wisconsin, and I always appreciate hearing from you. Please contact me any time I can be of help to you.

Sincerely

Jim Doyle
Governor

Posted May 28, 2004