Rep. Deb Andraca Introduces Voucher Transparency Bill

Madison, Wis. – Today Representative Deb Andraca (D–Whitefish Bay) introduced the Voucher Transparency Bill as part of a package of education bills. This legislation is designed to help taxpayers understand how funding for private voucher schools impacts local public schools.

Property tax bills currently include the allocation of tax dollars to the county, municipality, local public school district, and technical colleges, but property tax bills do not include how much is being diverted to other schools. This bill would simply require all property tax bills to enumerate the impact of the statewide, Racine, and Milwaukee voucher programs, as well as the Special Needs Scholarship Program.

“Taxpayers have the right to know how their money is being spent,” said Andraca. “Any school that receives state dollars should be required to meet the same standards of transparency and accountability we require of our public schools.”

According to the legislation, every property tax bill would include the following statement: “The gross reduction in state aid to your school district in the (current year) is $__ as a result of pupils enrolled in the (statewide/ Racine/ Milwaukee choice program) or as a result of payments to (a private school) under the special needs scholarship program. Your school district had the option to increase property taxes to replace this aid reduction.”

“At a time when school districts are forced to use referendums for general operating expenses, most taxpayers do not realize that private school vouchers are primarily funded through reductions in state aid to their local public schools,” continued Andraca. “Educated choices are better choices, and every taxpayer deserves to know where their local tax dollars are going and how they are being spent.”

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.