Rep. Brostoff Statement on Voucher Schools and Property Taxes

MILWAUKEE – In response to newly-released data outlining the property tax implications of Wisconsin’s voucher school program, State Rep. Jonathan Brostoff (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement:

“These data just confirm what some of us have been saying all along: Wisconsin’s voucher school program presents an unnecessary burden on Wisconsin taxpayers, with little to show for this terrible investment. Time and again, research has shown that voucher schools don’t actually substantially improve student outcomes, and oftentimes actually underperform compared to traditional public schools. Nonetheless, Milwaukee Public Schools alone saw a gross reduction of over $42.5 million in funding in the 2018-19 school year in order to support these ineffective voucher programs – that’s $42.5 million that Milwaukee taxpayers are on the hook for making up through increased property taxes, and for what?”

Per the data linked above, the increased tax burden as a result of supporting Milwaukee’s voucher program amounts to 5.67% of Milwaukeeans’ property tax bills, money that could go towards either property tax abatement or funding for other crucial services if the school voucher program were to be eliminated.

“For far too long, the residents of the 19th District have been forced to support two school systems – one public and accountable, one private and opaque – with nothing to show for it but weakened public schools and increased tax bills. That is why I will be reintroducing my ‘Public Education Reinvestment Act’ (PERA) this Session, in order to end Wisconsin’s failed voucher program once and for all, protect our taxpayers, and make sure that kids across Wisconsin have equal access to the high-quality public education they deserve.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.