Revenue Controls Punish Wilmot
The small Wilmot Grade School District in western Kenosha County is
in serious financial trouble as a result of an unfair school finance
system and revenue controls, according to Administrator Richard Duesing.
“When I asked for help recently, the response was: ‘There
is nothing we can do for you.’ I think there is something we can
do,” Duesing said. “We just have to have the courage and commitment
to provide an equitable educational opportunity for all Wisconsin students.
“It is time to speak up for my students and community,” said
a very frustrated Duesing.
Duesing said it costs his district $80,000 to educate two special education
students, one of whom requires extraordinary care. Those costs raise
the district’s average spending per pupil above the statewide average.
As a result of that artificially high spending per pupil, the district
becomes eligible for less state aid, Duesing said. After the numbers
are run through the complicated state aid formulas, the state pays just
$1,000 toward the district’s $80,000 special education costs, he
said. As a result of those problems and revenue controls, his K-8 district
– with 135 students and 11 full-time teachers – has suffered
through three years of $150,000-per-year budget deficits, he said. When
the community passed a referendum to bail the district out by increasing
taxes $150,000 per year, the state responded by further reducing state
funding and lowering the district’s revenue cap.
Duesing said that obviously is not fair, but he was told that when
it comes to revenue controls, there is no appeals process or consideration
for special circumstances.
“The state has to make provisions for special circumstances such
as these to help us educate these kids,” he said. “We’re
pitting special education kids against regular education kids, and that’s
what bothers me the most.”
Posted December 2, 1998