Governor Evers discusses education spending in Oshkosh

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WBAY) - Governor Tony Evers visited Franklin Elementary in Oshkosh on Wednesday, touting a proposal to expand spending on K-12 education by more than $3 billion over the next two years.

Republicans are pushing back demanding more accountability and higher test scores in return.

This funding increase for K-12 schools is the most ever in state history.

The governor is defending this, by saying it will keep property taxes in check, at a time local school boards must rely on referendums, to cover existing expenses.

It’s money that will boost support for mental health needs, and ensure kids have the tools they need to learn in the classroom.

“My budget is going to reduce property taxes. My budget is going to make sure our public schools have resources. My budget is going to keep property taxes low or even no increases,” Gov. Evers said.

Republicans responding in Madison Wednesday, with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, saying any funding increase must produce results.

“What we want to make sure is that at a time when only 31 percent of the students who are taking the fourth grade test are reading at grade level, we want to make sure that actually gets better than where it is now. In fact right now that test score is the lowest it’s been since 1992,” Vos said.

Vos has also vowed to strip out every one of the Governor’s policy issues.

This is as the two sides prepare to negotiate on the biennial budget, over the course of the next few months.

“I’m not concerned about their commentary at this point in time but if I was Robin Vos I’d be worried about some of his folks not getting re-elected but they refused to lower taxes and provide money for schools,” Evers said.

“As far as schools go in the budget, it’s the largest expense in the budget, 15.3 billion dollars every two years. It’s 15 percent of our overall budget and I don’t know what he expects to get for more money, there’s never an explanation in that,” Sen. Eric Wimberger (R) said.

The Joint Finance Committee is now holding its own hearings on the budget.

The existing one expires July 1.