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Underly: $228 Million is "Irresponsible" Because it's not Enough
Wisconsin’s state superintendent says another $228 million for special education across the state is “irresponsible.”
Superintendent Jill Underley is ripping the budget package approved Thursday by the Joint Committee on Finance.
Along with a $1.3 billion tax cut, the legislature’s budget committed nearly $230 million more for special education Republicans say that would be enough new money to cover 35% of special ed services for schools across the state.
Underly said it’s not enough.
“Our public schools desperately need and deserve funding that is flexible, spendable and predictable. This budget fails to deliver on all three," Underly said in a statement.
She backed Gov. Tony Evers' proposed budget that would have covered at least 60% of special education services across the state.
Evers never said just how much money he wanted to do that. But the governor walked away from budget negotiations when he claimed Republicans wouldn't budge.
“The budget they approved raises your property taxes, doesn’t support students with disabilities and cuts youth mental health funding — all at a time when more kids than ever are struggling, and schools are stretched thin. This isn’t ‘right-sizing.’ It’s irresponsible,” Underly added.
Republicans made it clear back in February that very little, if any, of the governor’s spending proposals would become law.
Democratic lawmakers joined Underly’s criticisms.
“Republicans chose to fail our kids by underfunding our classrooms, which will lead to continued funding crises and the cycle of endless referendums. These actions are the latest example of Republicans forcing people to choose between feeding their children and passing referendums to fund their schools,” the Joint Committee on Finance’s Democratic members said in a joint statement.
The JFC plan now heads for votes in the Republican-controlled Assembly and Senate. The budget will eventually end-up on Gov. Evers’ desk where lawmakers say they’ll have to wait to see what changes he makes.
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