State Schools Superintendent Tony Evers gets reaction to his school finance reform plan. Representative Robin Vos gives Evers credit for at least putting some ideas out there, because the state’s school funding formula has problems that need to be addressed. “That’s the real challenge, but I am definitely open to the idea of reforming the formula, as long as it’s done in a fair way that benefits all taxpayers over the long run.” said Vos, who will serve as co-chair of the legislature’s budget writing Joint Committee on Finance in the next session.
The ‘Fair Funding for Our Future’ from Evers would guarantee a minimum $3,000 level of state aid for every student, and end what he calls the “school funding shell game” by eliminating $900 million in property tax credits. Evers says districts would be “held harmless” for one budget cycle. Vos notes that any changes in the existing system of funding schools in Wisconsin, there are bound to be winners and losers.