TABOR Would Worsen Schools' Financial Crises, Bell Tells Panel

School district revenue controls already are devastating Wisconsin public schools, and the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights would exact an even heavier toll on children, WEAC Secretary-Treasurer Mary Bell told a legislative committee Wednesday (April 5, 2006).

Bell cited a recent Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo pointing out that when revenue controls and the proposed TABOR constitutional limits conflict, school districts would have to live under the lesser of the two.

"Revenue controls are not working for Wisconsin’s schools. Implanting a conflicting set of revenue controls in our state Constitution only means our schools, and therefore our children, will pay an even heavier price," she said in prepared remarks.

Bell testified at a joint invitation-only hearing before the Senate Select Committee on the Taxpayer Protection Amendment and the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. The latest version of TABOR in Wisconsin is being called the Taxpayer Protection Amendment (TPA).

Bell cited a survey of the state’s school superintendents - conducted by WEAC and the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators - showing that curriculum, program, service and staff cuts forced by revenue controls already are severely undermining the ability of schools to provide quality education. Cuts have worsened every year in each of the 27 program and service areas included in the survey, she said.

Mary Bell

For example, she said, while the survey found that 48% of the school districts increased class sizes in 1998-99 because of the caps, 70% did in the 2004-05 school year. Thirty-six percent of school districts laid off teachers in 1998-99 while 70% did in 2004-05.

In addition to compounding the effects of revenue controls, Bell said, the so-called Taxpayer Protection Amendment also raises constitutional "red flags." Article X, Section 3, of the Wisconsin Constitution requires that the Legislature provide for the establishment of district schools that are as nearly uniform as practicable, she said. "However, the proposed constitutional amendment would have a disequalizing effect on per-student spending in Wisconsin. School districts where state aid represents a smaller share of their budget would be allowed to grow at a faster rate than school districts where state aid represents a larger share of their budget."

In addition to its negative impact on our public schools, the proposed TPA "would destroy the rapid responsiveness of the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) as an engine of economic growth and development," Bell said.

"It is questionable whether there will ever likely be sufficient time to go to district-wide referendum for necessary resources when a major plant closes or local training needs change rapidly. Furthermore, the proposed revenue growth formula is not based on or related to the types of economic forces that drive demand for WTCS services. A formula based on past inflation and district population increases does not address that WTCS enrollment often spikes in times of economic downturn."

Bell said the TPA is "fundamentally flawed and reckless fiscal policy."

"Arbitrary formulas enshrined in the Constitution cannot take into account the full impact of factors related to school expenditures," she said. "The proposed constitutional amendment will cause long-term irreparable harm to Wisconsin’s great public schools, reduce essential local services, and erode local control."

Following the invitation-only hearing, the committees held an open hearing. Among those testifying at that time were several WEAC members from throughout the state.

Teacher Ed Johnson brought with him a resolution unanimously approved by Clintonville Education Association members at their March 1 General Membership meeting. The resolution says the association opposes "any constitutional amendment which would limit state and municipality revenue authority."

In addition, he said, the Clintonville Board of Education passed a resolution opposed to TABOR and the TPA because it would exacerbate the severe financial problems the district already faces due to school district revenue limits.

"Wisconsin has a proud progressive tradition. TPA will irreparably harm that tradition and Wisconsin’s quality of life – its schools, its communities, and its essential services," Johnson said. "People here are willing to pay taxes for the services that make it a great place to live, work, and recreate."

Kraig Brownell, a La Crosse chemistry teacher, said that if TABOR in any form is imposed on the citizens of Wisconsin, "the damage to our quality of life will be widespread and will negatively impact our citizens for decades to come."

"One of the most vulnerable groups of citizens to be negatively impacted by this legislation will be children," Brownell said, "… the group all adults should be doing everything in their power to protect!"

Brownell said, among other things, TABOR would result in even larger class sizes.

"The National Science Teachers’ Association recommends class sizes for any lab-based science courses be no more than 24 students. My classroom/lab is designed to safely handle no more than 28 students. This coming year - without TABOR in place - I am facing class sizes over 30 in chemistry," he said. "If any form of TABOR is implemented, my district will have to cut an additional $1 million from its budget next year beyond cuts already forced by revenue controls. Such a drastic cut will result in more teachers being laid off and class sizes becoming even larger."

Gail Kuhl, media specialist in Amery, said revenue controls and the Qualified Economic Offer law already are damaging Wisconsin public schools, and TABOR would make the situation worse.

"I used to be proud to say I taught in the School District of Amery and that I taught in the State of Wisconsin. Those words have lost some of their shine. There is a hole and this hole is getting bigger because of revenue limits," she said.

"I am here today to represent the students and people in my community and to say 'enough!' Do not impose any more revenue controls on us that will further erode the chances of one single child reaching his or her full potential," Kuhl said. "Do not impose revenue controls on us that will erode health care services for our most elderly and disabled people of our communities. Do not impose revenue controls on us that will erode our fire departments, roads and bridges."

Resource Page on Tax Gimmicks

Posted April 5, 2006