Milwaukee Mayor Johnson and County Executive Crowley Endorse MPS Referendum Campaign
Milwaukee’s Top Leaders Announce Support for Vital Funding Measure for Milwaukee’s Children
MILWAUKEE, WI – Today, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley announced their support for the Vote Yes for MPS campaign to approve the April 2 Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) School Support Referendum. A successful referendum will deliver crucial funding for our schools and keep our Milwaukee students safe from devastating cuts.
“As a proud MPS graduate and an MPS parent, I am happy to endorse this important campaign to ensure that Milwaukee votes Yes for MPS on April 2. We have to make sure Milwaukee students return to school next fall without cuts to their schools and with every opportunity we can provide them,” said County Executive David Crowley.
The April 2 referendum will allow MPS to maintain and fully implement our ongoing efforts to provide all Milwaukee students access to art, music, physical education, and school libraries as well as protecting vocational and technical skills training programs that prepare our students for the future. Without this funding, MPS will be forced to cut teachers and school support staff, increase class sizes, and eliminate important programs.
The state government has massively underfunded public education, with per pupil funding lagging inflation by more than $3,300 per pupil since 2009, the year when the legislature stopped automatic increases tied to the rate of inflation. The budget gap was made even worse by the 2021–2023 state budget which “froze state per-pupil revenue limits on schools, capping what districts could take from state general school aids and local property taxes.” (Wisconsin Policy Forum, July 22)
These key endorsements from the Mayor and County Executive come shortly after last week’s announcement of polling by the Vote Yes for MPS Committee showing voters overwhelmingly support the MPS referendum. The poll was conducted by Impact Research. Click here to view the memo.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
More about the 2024 MPS Referendum
- K-12 Education: MPS Plans $60 Million In Budget Cuts - Terry Falk - Apr 22nd, 2024
- Following Referendum, MPS Cuts Trauma Specialists in 53206 ZIP Code - Corrinne Hess - Apr 17th, 2024
- MMAC statement on MPS referendum - Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce - Apr 3rd, 2024
- City Forward Collective Responds To The Outcome of the MPS Referendum - City Forward Collective - Apr 3rd, 2024
- MTEA President Ingrid Walker Henry: Statement on Passage of MPS Referendum - Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association - Apr 2nd, 2024
- Statement from GMC on April 2nd MPS referendum - Greater Milwaukee Committee - Mar 26th, 2024
- MPS Referendum Would Reverse Effects of Declining State Funding - Graham Kilmer - Mar 12th, 2024
- K-12 Education: Is Building Surplus a Factor in MPS Referendum? - Terry Falk - Mar 11th, 2024
- Campaign Targets MPS Funding Referendum - Graham Kilmer - Feb 24th, 2024
- Campaign Wants You To “Vote Yes For MPS” On School Referendum - Graham Kilmer - Feb 22nd, 2024
Read more about 2024 MPS Referendum here
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association
I am very disappointed in the mayor and CE. No need to kowtow to the union on this massive, permanent tax hike on their constituents. Especially after the district lied about how the 2020 referendum revenue was to be used versus how it was used. Enough is enough.
Crowley and Johnson are not “leaders.” They are both cracked in the head and need to get real jobs and feel the effects of their insane policies. Raise taxes, big raises, raise taxes again. They think we are idiots.
This “poll” that is cited is a joke. It rates 184th on this website. The NY Times is first. The Washington Post second and Marquette University third.
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/pollster-ratings/
When you ask nonsensical questions in the abstract like “Do you believe in better education?” people might say yes. If you ask, “After these recent huge sales tax increases and giant raises at City Hall, are you willing to pay more taxes for MPS?” The answer is going to be NO! These two are why people vote for Republicans—enough with these taxes. You two Go first and donate 50% of your salaries for as long as you are in office to MPS and then we can talk.
The sad thing is, MPS really needs this money, but unfortunately won’t get it because people (including me) are angry at the lies and misuse of the latest tax increase! It is shameful that our State Legislature hates Milwaukee so much that they jeopardize the lives and education of our children. As for voting for Republicans, they only lower taxes for the wealthy and I really don’t see how we fared better under Republican leadership in this City/County. Honestly, I am to the point that I think Crowley should be recalled!
I don’t vote for Republicans. That would be crazy. But it was that goofball Tom Ament
and his pension scam that gave us Scott Walker as County Executive. When Democrats
spin out of control and are out of touch, people will vote for others. That is one of many
reasons why Crowley and Johnson are not serving the people, just their interests. They act so much like Republicans in their tyranny that I see little difference between Vos, trump, and JO/CROW.
I agree MPS needs more money. So do I. So does half the County. They both think
the public are nothing more than suckers with fat wallets. I think they both need to find new jobs.
@ZeeManMke I absolutely agree with you. I would actually extend those comments to almost all politicians. They are all in office to further their own interests. Unfortunately Crowley and Johnson will find new jobs, probably in the State Legislature at some point, just like Walker. I honestly don’t know what the answer is these days. I hate sounding so cynical, but these days I don’t see much difference between Democrats or Republicans….(except Trump and his cronies…lol).