The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.

This is Mark Maier; I am a candidate for state Assembly District 81.

I am concerned about the rising property taxes and declining student literacy in our schools. Our children are our future, and they deserve the best education that we can provide. As a country, we as taxpayers pay the second highest per-student cost in the world. Yet we place 19th in overall literacy. The United States lags far behind in grade-level test scores. In Wisconsin, the average per-student cost is $17,400 with total expenditures averaging over $20,000. We as taxpayers, parents, and grandparents support funding our school, but are the students receiving the education they need for the future?

The average literacy rate in Wisconsin ranges from 45% to 50%, with grade school children averaging closer to 35% literacy at their grade level. This is unacceptable for the money being spent. Our teachers are also underpaid compared to neighboring states. As a comparison, if you enrolled your child in a Catholic school, you can expect to pay between $4,000 and $10,000 per year, per student, depending on the location and school. Far less than what Wisconsin taxpayers are investing in our public schools. However, the literacy rate in Catholic schools is near 100%. It appears that increasing funding to the public schools is not the answer. We need to have more accountability on how we are spending tax dollars and not just constantly go to the taxpayers for more money.

The property taxes in Dane County rose higher than any other county in the state last year. Part of the reason is the constant school referendums. 

The rising property taxes have an effect on first-time homeowners. The cost of housing has risen dramatically in the last few years; coupled with rising property taxes, this is becoming too much to overcome for first-time homeowners. At the same time, aging homeowners that have worked hard all their lives to own a home and are now retired find the rising cost of property taxes eating away at their retirement funds. 

We need to find a solution for improving test scores as well as paying our teachers accordingly or hiring more teachers without putting the burden on property taxpayers.

If other countries that pay considerably less per student can achieve 99% literacy, then we as Americans should be able to do the same. 

Mark Maier is a Republican candidate for the 81st Assembly District.