Contact Governor Evers to Advocate for a Better Budget
Governor Tony Evers has just concluded a series of budget listening sessions. The listening sessions were an opportunity to communicate with the governor and his staff about educators’ priorities for the 2025-2027 biennial budget that the governor will introduce early in 2025. Many WEAC members and leaders attended the listening sessions throughout the state and virtually.
It is not too late for you to add your voice. Submit written public comments on the governor’s constituent website.
Here is a sample message that you can cut and paste into the window on the constituent form. You might choose to individualize the message based on your own experience:
Sample Message
After record numbers of school districts have had to resort to local referendum questions to keep schools open and running, taxpayers are tired of having to go to referendum. The state can afford to fund public education.
Stop shifting all the cost onto local taxpayers and stop discriminating against special needs students in public schools. It’s morally wrong that Wisconsin uses taxpayer dollars to fund 90 percent of special needs for private voucher schools while the local public schools that serve 95 percent of special needs students are reimbursed less than 30 percent.
Use the surplus to adequately fund our schools and address the state’s educator shortage. The state sat on a multi-billion-dollar surplus, the last budget diverted historic amounts of funding to unaccountable private voucher schools without enough funding for public schools to compensate for inflation and more than a decade of under-funding. Fund our schools so districts can staff them.
Act Now
Now is the time to advocate for a budget that addresses our students’ and schools’ needs. The state is sitting on a multi-billion-dollar budget surplus, just as in the previous budget cycle, but the last budget diverted historic funding to unaccountable private vouchers and didn’t substantially provide additional funding for public schools.
Now and throughout the budget season, WEAC is uniting educators, parents, and public-school advocates throughout our state to make a positive change for students. Together, we are building a movement for a better state budget in 2025-27 that supports students, stabilizes the education professions, and protects public schools.
Here are some salient talking points that embody some of the top budget priorities:
Talking Points
School Funding and the Educator Shortage: Use the surplus to adequately fund our schools and address the state’s educator shortage. The state is sitting on a multi-billion-dollar budget surplus for a second straight budget cycle. But the last budget diverted historic amounts of funding to unaccountable private vouchers without substantial additional funding for public schools to compensate for inflation and more than a decade of under-funding. Fund our schools so districts can staff them.
Special Education: Stop discriminating against special needs students in public schools. It’s morally wrong that Wisconsin uses taxpayer dollars to fund 90 percent of special needs for private voucher schools while the local public schools that serve 95 percent of special needs students are reimbursed less than 30 percent.
Referendums are No Way to Fund Our Schools: After record numbers of school districts have had to resort to local referendum questions to keep schools open and running, taxpayers are tired of having to go to referendum. The state can afford to fund public education. Stop shifting all the cost onto local taxpayers.
