Taxes, economy, funding

This graphic is part of a TEF slide show put together by Lakewood UniServ Director Steven Cupery. The slide show is being shown to members and in the community. (Click the image for a larger version)

It seems obvious to most of us that the health of our economy relies on the strength of our public schools. Schools create the workers of the future and contribute in untold ways to developing a community.

But a lot of people are either overlooking these facts or intentionally distorting them to support their own agendas. As a result, citizens sometimes are misinformed or understandably confused.

For that reason,WEAC is working with the NEA, UniServs and locals on an educational initiative referred to as TEF – Taxes, Economy and school Funding. It is a way for people – starting with our own members – to be more informed about our tax structure and how our schools can ensure equal educational and economic opportunity for all. It focuses on:

• Making taxes fair.
• Leveling the economic playing field for businesses.
• Funding schools adequately.

“Knowledge is power and we hope to provide information to our members so that we can broaden our audience out in the community with this knowledge,” said WEAC-Fox Valley UniServ Director Terri Trimbell.

Trimbell,WEAC-Fox Valley Board President Kim Jordan and Neenah teacher Barb Traynor-Hayden are presenting this message throughout the WEAC-Fox Valley membership. WEACFox Valley is one of the lead UniServs in getting the TEF message out to members first, and then to the community.

“Our members need to begin to understand the complicated issues involving school funding in order to be active politically and to involve community members in the conversation,” Jordan said.

Nearly every WEAC-Fox Valley local has heard the message that tax cuts don’t grow the economy,Trimbell said. In order to have a strong solid foundation for school success, communities need to invest in their public schools.

“Recently, Neenah and Little Chute passed school referendums, which proves how the communities are willing to invest in their schools,” she said. “Taxes not only support public education but also allow citizens to live in a safe, civilized, prosperous society.”

Trimbell said the TEF message, in part, is that everyone should pay their fair share, including businesses. An analysis of the last 30 years of tax data from all 50 states clearly shows that policymakers have rendered our tax structures full of loopholes and created a grossly unfair system, she said.

“Many members want to see the new bi-partisan Legislature seriously address the school funding formula so that it adequately supports public education,” Trimbell said.

Traynor-Hayden is working with Trimbell to get the TEF message out as a means to support great schools.

“I felt it was important to become more informed in understanding where our tax dollars are being spent. The information is so eye-opening that I felt motivated to share the TEF message to our members,”Traynor-Hayden said. “Our school systems depend on a coalition of unions, school boards, administration and community citizens to clearly voice the message of adequately funding our public schools to the Legislature.”

Another UniServ that is working to spread the word is Lakewood, where UniServ Director Steven Cupery has worked with NEA to develop and present a comprehensive slide show to local associations. Cupery said he believes the TEF material is most effective when it is connected to specific WEAC legislative proposals such as lifting revenue caps and revamping our system of financing public schools. It also incorporates the concepts of:

• Reforming taxes so businesses and the wealthy pay their fair share.
• Reducing the cost of government through comprehensive health care reform that distributes the cost of health care more fairly among employers and radically reduces costs.

Cupery said his members are already putting this information to use. Oconomowoc teachers, for example, have used the tax information to educate the Oconomowoc community leaders about the nature of these issues as they battled for a fair contract.

The day after a training in another community, one member used the TEF information to call into a public radio talk show and counter a guest’s assertion that businesses in Wisconsin are overtaxed.

“The TEF training cuts to the heart of our mission to support great schools in Wisconsin,” said WEAC President Stan Johnson.“A fair system of taxation and school funding is essential to the future of a strong public education system.”

To find out how you can participate in the TEF initiative, contact WEAC President Stan Johnson at johnsons@weac.org.

Posted March 25, 2007