With Projected Revenues Up, Republicans Want More K-12 Funding

Some Assembly Republicans say they will push for an increase in funding for K-12 education.

That’s in light of a memo today by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau showing that the state will have an additional $500 million in tax revenues to spend or save.

Joint Finance Committee Co-chair John Nygren (R-Marinette) said today in a joint news release with other Republicans that he wants to use some of that money for a $100-dollar-per-student increase in general aid to schools. John Ashley, executive director of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, says public schools deserve more.

“I certainly hope that the legislature follows Senator Ellis’s recommendation to increase the spending by $200. That would really help just in terms of dealing with inflation for our school districts.”

Senate President Mike Ellis (R-Neenah) is calling for a per-pupil increase of $200. Democratic leaders Senator Chris Larson and Representative Peter Barca would like to see the entire $500 million surplus go toward public education.