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Effects of Revenue Caps
on Programs and Services Offered by Wisconsin’s Public
Schools —
1998-1999 School Year |
Footnotes:
- In 1993, Wisconsin Act 16 limited the amount of money school
districts could raise by freezing spending at 1992-1993 levels. The
legislation sought to control increases in property taxes by
limiting the total amount of money that public school districts
could raise from year to year. During the 1993-1994 school year, the
annual increase was limited to $190 per student. Beginning with the
1994-1995 school year, the per pupil dollar amount was to be
adjusted for inflation. However, in 1995 the original legislation
was changed, and the revenue caps were made permanent. The per pupil
increases were set at specific dollar amounts ($200 per student in
1995-96, $206 in 1996-97, and slightly less than $209 per student in
1998-99.) For 1999-2000 and 2000-2001, the figures are approximately
$212 and $217, respectively. Legislation passed in 1999 also allows
school districts to count 40% of summer school enrollment for the
purpose of generating revenue under the caps. As part of this
package, which was intended to control property taxes, in 1995 the
state also committed to funding two-thirds of public education. Keep
in mind that the figure, two-thirds, is an average for all
districts. The actual percent varies by the property value of
districts.
- The mean is the arithmetic average of responses, while the median
is the half-way point (50% below and 50% above this value). The mode
is the most frequent response.
- The complete list of written comments can be found at the end of
this paper.
- Currently, the State of Wisconsin pays approximately 34% of the
costs of educating children with special needs.
- Between December, 1993 and December 1999, the consumer Price
Index rose from 145.1 to 167.9 (16% increase).
- The “typical” family of an elementary student paid
approximately $10 in student fees in 1993-1994 (mean = $10.13;
median = $6.) By 1998-99, the elementary fees had increased by about
$6 per student to approximately $16 (mean = $16.30; median = $11.)
At the secondary level, the “typical” family in 1993-94
paid about $25 (mean = $26.39; median = $19). By 1998-99, the
secondary fees had increased to between $25 and $44 per student,
depending on whether one uses the mean ($44.05) or median ($25).
- For example, see the home page of the Center for the Analysis of
Commercialism in Education, School of Education, University of
Wisconsin, Milwaukee at www.uwm.edu/Dept/CACE/
- Pearson’s r =-17, p =.05.
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