Contact: Amy Hasenberg, (608) 266-2839

MADISON – Governor Scott Walker issued the following statement after the Legislature approved legislation to increase state funding for Wisconsin’s rural schools with bipartisan support. This is a major component of Governor Walker’s Ambitious Agenda for 2018, and it comes on top of the historic investments made for all K-12 schools in the 2017-19 state budget.
“This increased funding is so important for our rural communities,” Governor Walker said. “I thank Representatives John Nygren and Jeff Mursau and Senator Howard Marklein for championing our efforts in the Legislature. We want to make sure every student has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of where they live. I look forward to signing this bill, which received bipartisan support, into law.”

This legislation helps to address challenges faced by low-population school districts by providing $400 per pupil, a $100 increase in per-pupil funding for school districts with 745 students or less and a population density of less than 10 students per square mile. The bill also includes an increase to the Low Revenue Ceiling from $9,100 to $9,400 for the 2018-2019 school year, with the Low Revenue Ceiling rising by $100 per year thereafter up to $9,800 by the 2022-2023 school year. The bill also provides protections for property taxpayers in districts where referenda were voted down. The state budget also provided property tax relief to compensate for the changes.

These initiatives are in addition to Wisconsin’s historic $11.5 billion investment in K-12 education included in the 2017-2019 budget. This budget provides $200 new dollars per student for every school in the state this year, and on top of that, an additional increase of $204 per student next year.

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