First, I object to diverting resources from school districts to private schools. While the bill authors present this bill as a temporary increase in the income threshold, students who participate in any choice program are not required to meet the income requirement in subsequent years of participation. Therefore, a one-time change in the WPCP income threshold has the potential for long-term financial impacts. Additionally, participation in the WPCP increased by over 30 percent in the 2019-20 school year and 25 percent in the 2020-21 school with the 220 percent income threshold in place, indicating that the current income threshold does not prevent program growth.
Further, I am concerned that the implementation of these proposed changes to the WPCP would increase property taxes in some school districts. Currently, 297 school districts have the potential for increased property taxes as a result of resident students participating in the WPCP. The bill would exacerbate not only property tax increases but the incoherence of Wisconsin's current school funding system among public and private schools in the state.
Additionally, the bill is not timely as the application period for the WPCP for the 2021-22 school year ended on April 15, 2021, leaving no time for parents of newly eligible students to apply.
Moreover, the temporary changes to the open enrollment alternative application procedure reduce the local decision-making ability of school boards. Meanwhile, expanding the number of nonresident school districts a student may apply to in each open enrollment period may result in an increased administrative burden and uncertainty over which school district a student may end up attending.
Finally, in the 2020 open enrollment application period, only 11 of roughly 25,000 applicants were denied under the three school district limit, indicating the current is not as restrictive as portrayed. This is a bill that purports to address problems, but it unfortunately only creates more of them.
Sincerely,
TONY EVERS
Governor of Wisconsin
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Communications
June 18, 2021
Edward A. Blazel
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Chief Clerk Blazel:
hist136415Please add my name as a co-author of Assembly Bill 191, relating to eliminating the personal property tax and making an appropriation. Sincerely,
JON PLUMER
State Representative
42nd Assembly District
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June 18, 2021
Edward A. Blazel
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Chief Clerk Blazel:
hist136426Please add my name as a co-author of Assembly Joint Resolution 63, relating to recognizing June 28, 2021, as the 52nd anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. Sincerely,
ROBYN VINING
State Representative
14th Assembly District
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June 18, 2021
Edward A. Blazel
Assembly Chief Clerk
17 West Main Street, Suite 401
Madison, WI 53703
Dear Chief Clerk Blazel:
hist136416Please add my name as a co-author of Assembly Bill 19, relating to justices or judges authorized to officiate a marriage. hist136417Please add my name as a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 14, relating to justices or judges authorized to officiate a marriage. Sincerely,
JONATHAN BROSTOFF
State Representative
19th Assembly District
