Referenda and elections
are all important this year
What happens at ballot boxes
around Wisconsin — fortunately or unfortunately —
has a great deal to do with the futures of schools and communities
throughout the state. Tuesday, Sept. 9, was a good example
with eight referenda questions to exceed state-imposed revenue
caps being decided.
In addition, school-funding
reformers need to be aware of what else is going on at the
ballot box. While school funding is definitely not a partisan
issue, it is a political one. Our present system is law and
the only way to change the law is to, quite simply, have enough
legislators vote to change it. Therefore, it is important
that we keep track of candidates, question them about their
views of school-funding whenever possible, and vote for those
who want to change the system to help children and communities.
To catch up on votes cast Sept.
9 — and get ready for the campaign season between now
and Nov. 4 — click
here.
Solving
Wisconsin’s school-funding crisis
School funding reform depends on fair taxes
This is the sixth and final in a series of six reports about
changing the way Wisconsin funds its public schools. Each
report is being mailed to candidates for the Assembly and
the Senate so they can be informed and pro-active heading
into the November 2008 elections.
Issue six of “Solving Wisconsin’s school-funding
crisis” is called “School-funding
reform depends on fair taxes". Not only is our school-funding
system broken, but during the last decade many other vital
infrastructure needs have also been neglected. At a time when
we should be building our economy and our communities for
the future, our investment in security and the future has
actually decreased compared to cost.
The answer is for state government to increase its investment
in public schools, the futures of our children and their communities,
and our economy. While local taxpayers must bear part of that
investment, the Constitution says it is up to the state to
provide children with quality education.
An increase in the state’s investment means Wisconsin’s
tax laws, policies, and rules must be applied fairly to all
citizens —corporate and human —who depend on public
structures for opportunities and security. One possibility
is to expand the sales tax to untaxed services, such as dog
grooming, advertising sales, and hair cuts. Or the Legislature
could decide to close a few of the hundreds of millions of
dollars worth of tax loopholes being taken advantage of by
large, multi-national, profitable corporations. Whatever we
choose, it must be based on tax fairness.
“Solving Wisconsin’s school-funding crisis”
includes:
WAES hopes that the reports will help candidates —and
legislators —talk about school-funding reform and understand
that there is an answer to a serious problem that threatens
the security and opportunities of children and communities
all over Wisconsin.
As they are mailed to the candidates, the reports will be
posted on the WAES website. Check back often, read the reports,
and make sure those running for the Legislature —to
represent you —are held accountable for our children’s
education and our communities’ futures.
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