Property Tax Freeze Plan Would 'Return State to Ice Age'
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