OP-ED: Wisconsin Voters Approved Billions for Public Schools—Now It’s Time for State Lawmakers to Put Public Education Over Tax Breaks for the Wealthy

person at a desk putting a coin into a piggy bank and paper cut out of a family

In the November 2024 election, Wisconsin voters approved more than $4 billion in public school referendums – meaning, Wisconsin taxpayers believe in their public schools enough that they raised their own taxes to help them succeed.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. The Republican controlled state legislature is sitting on a multi-billion dollar budget surplus they could use to ensure our public schools have the funds they need to thrive while also lowering taxes for hardworking families.

Instead, GOP Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and other Republican legislators have repeatedly tried to take funds away from public schools and into the pockets of greedy donors with tax plans that would largely benefit the wealthiest few while average Wisconsin families and schools are left behind.

With a new legislative session and budget negotiations soon approaching, and key legislative seats picked up by progressives under Wisconsin’s new fair maps, the time is now for our state legislature to fund thriving public schools and tax cuts for the middle class and working families.

Call your legislator today at 1-800-436-9472 and demand they fund our local communities’ needs – and our priorities as voters – this legislative session and upcoming budget season.