MADISON, WI – Yesterday, State Senate Democratic Leader Dianne Heselbein, Senator Brad Pfaff, and Representative Jenna Jacobson held a press conference on the 72 school districts across Wisconsin holding referendum votes this spring. Hesselbein, Pfaff, and Jacobson made it clear that Wisconsinites should not be forced to choose between raising their own property taxes and adequately funding schools.

Read more on Legislative Democrat’s opposition to endless property tax referendums, and advocacy for properly funded public schools:

Spectrum News 1: Democrats push for more school funding as Wisconsin districts turn to voters for support

  • “As the state sits on a surplus, Democrats argue schools wouldn’t have to ask voters for support if that money were spent on education funding in the first place.”
  • “‘Do you want to raise your own property taxes, or do you want your child’s school to go underfunded?’ Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, said of the question many Wisconsin voters will have to answer in the next two weeks, as early voting begins on Tuesday.”
  • “‘The very simple reason is that the Republican politicians right here in this building have failed them,’ Pfaff told reporters as he pointed at the Capitol. ‘They failed our kids, and they are shifting their duty to fund our public schools to the local taxpayers.’”
  • “Democrats cited data from the state’s Department of Public Instruction, released last fall, that showed 71% of Wisconsin public schools will see less funding, while $350 million in general aid will go toward voucher schools.”
  • “‘We have session days that we could still be meeting,’ Hesselbein added. ‘We have a lot of things to get done in the state of Wisconsin. We want to still work, and we need to be doing things to prioritize people in the state of Wisconsin, especially K-12 education, moving forward.’”

WKOW 27: Wisconsin Democrats criticize GOP for inadequate public school funding

  • “State Democrats criticized Republicans this month for what they call inadequate funding of public schools, saying 70 districts are holding referendum votes that force residents to choose between education and taxes.”
  • “Rep. Jenna Jacobson (D-Oregon), said she went door-to-door in Prairie du Chien, where residents expressed frustration about having to vote on a referendum.”
  • “‘You know, folks are saying, we’re paying our property taxes to fund our schools, and we’re sending money to Madison to fund our schools, and we’re electing people in Madison to make sure that money gets back and it’s not coming,’ Jacobson said.”
  • “Sen. Diane Hesselbein, the Democratic minority leader, said Republican senators will soon have to explain their decisions to voters.”
  • Sen. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska) added, ‘The communities I represent are again facing such an avoidable choice. But I want to be crystal clear with you here today, the reason these residents are being forced to raise their own taxes is because the Republicans here in Madison have refused to fund the education of our children.’”