Democrats On State Budget Committee Propose K-12 Funding Plan

With Republicans still at odds over the state budget, Democrats on the state budget committee unveiled their proposal for K-12 funding Thursday.

The plan would increase general school aid by $525 million and implement a funding formula pushed for years by state schools Superintendent Tony Evers. It would also eliminate a school levy tax credit and shift that money directly to classrooms.

The Legislature’s budget office says the proposal would cut property taxes on the typical home by $3 next year and $5 in 2019.

“I think we can walk and chew gum on this one, we can deliver more money for all districts within the existing budget and we can make sure that doesn’t disproportionately fall on local property taxpayers,” said Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, during a press conference on the proposal.

The Democratic plan would also provide about $90 million in additional state funding for special education.