Higher Property Taxes for Central Wisconsin Due to School Accountability Bill?
Sunday, January 18th, 2015 -- 6:53 AM
(Logan Carlson, Marshfield News Herald) -A provision of a Republican-authored school accountability bill potentially could lead to higher property taxes for central Wisconsin residents.Schools that are deemed as habitually underperforming according to Department of Public Instruction report cards would be converted into independently run charter schools. A total of 135 public schools fit that criteria, according to analysis by DPI.
Rep. Bob Kulp, R-Stratford, is a co-sponsor to the Assembly bill, and he told the Marshfield News Herald in an interview that the provision wouldn't directly affect any schools in central Wisconsin. "In our area, I don't think (schools) will be impacted in any way. I could drive 90 minutes in any direction before you run into any school that would be a part of it," Kulp said.
Kulp is correct that the closest school placed in the lowest two report card categories by DPI in three consecutive years is in Antigo. However, the idea that it wouldn't have a direct effect on residents in the area is misleading, said John Gaier, superintendent of the Neillsville School District and executive director of the Association for Equity in Funding.
Gaier said about $88,000 from Neillsville's general state aid goes to pay for charter schools in Milwaukee each year. That difference is then made up by local property taxes. Kulp said he believes the provision of the bill was included to help give those schools increased direction and tools for improvement.
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