Improve schools but limit taxes
10:35 PM 7/04/04

About 10 years ago, state lawmakers and the governor hatched a property tax relief scheme tied to school funding. The state agreed to pay more for schools, bringing immediate and significant property tax relief. <

Here we go again. A task force has advised Gov. Jim Doyle to raise sales taxes to shift about $1.4 billion in school costs off local property taxes. <

Questions about this massive tax shift aside, the task force has done Wisconsin a service by collecting dozens of ideas for educational improvements and recommending ways to address some of the obvious shortcomings in Wisconsin's otherwise excellent public education system. <

Still, limiting overall taxes while improving schools will be a stiff challenge. To achieve basic fairness, legislative leaders will have to do more than shift around taxes. They will need to change formulas for divying up the various types of state school aid. This is far more difficult that it might appear at first glance, because to ease problems in poor districts, richer ones may lose some help. The biggest roadblock: Every lawmaker will want every school he or she represents to be guaranteed more, not less, money under any new system. Taxpayers cannot afford to make everyone a winner. <

Beyond tinkering with formulas, state education and policy leaders must think creatively. In sprawling Idaho, for example, some rural schools have instituted longer, four-day school weeks to trim transportation and other costs. Experts are still assessing how the longer day affects learning. The Wisconsin task force has suggested similarly creative ideas such as extending some schools' operations into the summer and beefing up early childhood education. Both initiatives require up-front investment, but they may save money over the long run and boost student achievement. <

Let's be clear: Even if nothing changes, state school funding overall will continue to increase modestly. But in past days, we have show how educational funding priorities and state aid distribution bears little relationship to schools' real costs. To sustain the quality of education and the high student achievement that we have come to expect, we must make sure available money is put to best use. <

Can we cover the real expenses of schools without raising overall taxes? That's mostly up to Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle. If he wants to pay more for education, other programs must take a hit: Just look at price tags estimated for the most frequently touted priorities: <

$24 million to cut class sizes for kindergarten through third grade, when smaller classes help promote learning. <

$3 million to $20 million for bilingual learning, depending on how broadly Wisconsin tries to accept its fast-growing Hispanic population. <

$10 million for a pilot program that extends the school year to help high-poverty students keep up with wealthier peers. <

Up to $6 million to mentor new teachers. <

The task force didn't shy away from throwing out additional ideas that didn't have any specific cost at all - even though some obviously would carry hefty price tags. <

Any state changes in school financing must be built into Gov. Doyle's next budget, then get legislative approval. Now it's up to you to tell the governor and your lawmakers what education programs really matter to you - and unless you have a particularly fat bank account, you also ought to tell them where they could cut other spending to pay the freight. <

Learn more: View copies of task force reports and register your view by visiting: edexcellence.wisconsin.gov/ Do something: To contact Gov. Jim Doyle: wisgov@mail.state.wi.us. or 608-266-1212. To write your lawmaker, first find the e-mail address at www.legis.state.wi.us/leginfo/inetmail.html. If you don't know your legislator, or want to register an opinion by phone, call the legislative hotline, 800-362-9472 or 266-9960. TDD: 800-228-2115.