As for comparing school property tax mil rates with neighboring
districts, Madison comes in around the middle. Several surrounding districts
are paying starting teachers more. And, compared to the state average
rate of increase in per pupil spending since the QEO, Madison’s rate of
increase has been less – enough so that if we would have kept at the
state average – we’d have about $9 million more this year. The state
formula has steadily punished MMSD property taxpayers. Throw in promised
federal support for special ed – and we’d be in great shape. We’d have
avoided some nasty cuts, and we’d have 4-yr old kindergarten and more.
No referendum.

The main issue, I think, is missed. What you are calling for isn’t so
fiscally smart for Madison. It’s like having the infrastructure and not
enabling the human interactions that stimulate education. Punishing
teachers would probably lead to less special opportunities and a passion
for learning. Greater pain for the schools likely would mean erosion
of support and engagement within the schools and by the community. We’re
struggling with the hard realities of the financials, and not getting
a fair share from the state, but we are on a steady course and many
teachers are still putting in long hours and doing special things.

Part of the real fight against property taxes is that they are hard to
avoid. Many people can avoid income taxes with a bit of creativity and
re-structuring – but property taxes are simply proportional to
property value. The critic’s way to attack this fact is to say that the money
is wasted and the teachers are spoiled. It’s a tactic that’s old and
a bit rotten, in my opinion.

Minus health care, real wages have fallen, and work demands on teachers
have increased steadily. Staffing cuts means that more has to be done
with fewer people. This is affecting morale, our ability to retain our
best young teachers, and, ultimately, education. That’s not value for
the taxes we do pay, whether it is more or less.

This is not just about the kids (while they remain our focus), it’s
about our community.

The part I’ve heard from Madison teachers that aggravates me most are these direct and indirect style of statements, “it’s all about the kids but we’re going to take it out on the kids if we don’t get our wages increased and the best and most costly benefits package available”, seems quite contradictory to me. I think teachers and mti need to remember who’s serving who. They are here to serve the public, not to simply threaten, take, and make what they want. Wages: teacher wages/benefits are paid for by who? Do you mind property taxes going up way beyond inflation? Maybe your property taxes went down. Most didn’t. And, if they did go down, ask yourself why? What other pot of money did Doyle raid (again) to donate to weac? The dept. of Transportation has taken big hits during the last few budget cycles. Have you noticed auto registration going up? There are reasons why your single property taxes went down temporarily, just wait for the “fees” shortfalls to soon show up in other areas of your life. Other government employees are making do with less, why are mti teachers expected to be exempt? Also, if benefits can be had for a lower rate or for a better deal to save (taxpayer) money, why isn’t that change implemented? Because Matthews has his conflict of interest hands in the pot and its not really about saving taxpayer money and its not all about the kids, like were told come referendum time.

That said, I do agree that these days off during the school year are a
hardship for parents who work, regardless of income level. Much harder
for low income parents. And they don’t seem too great for the kids
either. The district has really tried to provide activities for the days
off but I wonder how constructive the activities are.

As for teacher wages going down, why would you wish that for anyone? I
think we can agree that a more flexible system than the QEO is
desirable. I think, and maybe TJ will correct me on this, that the cost of
benefits alone was close to the 3.8% cap during the last negotiation.

Anyway, thanks for posting. I hadn’t seen the Beth Zurbachen quote and
I can see why that might make someone mad.

Line-by-line.

“Obviously voters don’t trust school boards since most members are simply former teachers.”

The best source I can find says that only 13% of Board members are professional educators.

Like Frank Lasee, yo seem to throw around falsehood as facts.

It should also be remembered that Board Members are elected by the voters and that other elected bodies, including the one that Frank Lasee is a member of have much freer taxing authority.

“When voters learn that 80% percent of the school budgets are salaries and benefits, and that you always seem to want MORE, they resent it and vote ‘No’.”

About 50% of referendums pass.

I wish I had the QEO to “bargain” with. What a ripoff scam.

the QEO was enacted by the legislature to limit teacher compensation and property taxes. WEAC has pushed for the repeal of the QEO.