Error Makes Clear that MPS Can Afford MTEA Demand for Full 2.63% COLA on July 1

MILWAUKEE – As part of the bargaining process with the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association (MTEA), Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) Administration issued three proposals. In those proposals, MPS estimated payroll tax and benefit costs that are impacted by wages and salaries to be 53%. After analyzing these numbers, MTEA discovered that this is a gross overestimate. Payroll taxes and benefits that increase proportionally to salaries and wages make up only 17% of the cost of salary and benefits of MPS workers.

This critical error in basic budgeting by MPS caused their cost estimate for their highest cost proposal to be inflated by about $7.5 million, and raises concerns about the ability of this Administration to handle MPS finances. 

MPS Administration’s current highest cost offer was estimated under their errant numbers to cost $28.6 million. They asserted that they could not afford MTEA’s proposal that would cost just $2 million more.

This corrected information brings to light that our proposal would cost just $24.4 million – $4.2 million less than the amount MPS Administration has already asserted they can afford – making it clear that they can afford MTEA’s proposal for a full cost of living adjustment (COLA) on July 1 for all MTEA workers.

MTEA President Ingrid Walker-Henry issued the following statement:

“Superintendent Cassellius has no honest rationale for withholding full cost of living increases from frontline workers. Administration should come to the table today ready to agree to a full 2.63% COLA on July 1 for all MTEA-represented bargaining units so we can ensure our students’ schools and classrooms are fully staffed next school year and so MTEA and MPS can work together on priorities like increasing student enrollment and addressing the district’s high staff vacancy rate.”