The Milwaukee Public School District has a referendum on the ballot in this April’s election, asking for a property tax increase. There’s one slight problem: MPS is facing declining enrollment, and that’s leading critics, residents, and advocates alike to ask if there is a better option.
Here’s Five Fast Facts About the MPS Tax Referendum:
- 🧾 Increase - The referendum seeks $252M through property taxes. If passed, taxes would increase by $324 for a $150,000 home, and $540 for a $250,000 home. Supporters of the increase say the money is needed to maintain operations and avoid severe cuts.
- 🏫 Decrease - Enrollment at Milwaukee Public Schools is in bad shape. Recent reporting shows 36 schools have enrollment less than 70% of capacity, 23 operating at less than 60% and 14 are less than half full.
- 🎒 Resistance - School advocates are pushing back, saying MPS should have given the public multiple options for closing and consolidating schools before talk of a referendum even began.
- 🧑🎓 Argument - MPS Board members say closure wouldn’t make for immediate savings. A 2015 law that requires MPS to keep any school on the market for at least two years before selling it. When the bill was passed, Republicans believed MPS was trying to keep charter and private schools from taking over the buildings.
- ⛔ Action - MPS isn’t alone in its enrollment issues. Other schools in Southwest Wisconsin have closed or have begun discussing closures and 82% of state school districts have called for a referendum in the past 30 years.
🔥Bottom line: The old “cart before the horse” cliche is coming into play in this instance. But there is common sense at play on both sides of the issue. Each solution will involve taxpayer money and there’s no solid solution. It’s up to the voters to decide.
What do you think of the referendum?
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