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Milwaukee Public Schools must immediately halt all spending authorized by the narrowly passed $252 million referendum because taxpayers weren’t told the truth about MPS’s finances before the April election.
In addition, the state’s non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau should conduct an independent audit of MPS finances. The audit should also examine why MPS, the state Department of Public Instruction, and possibly Gov. Tony Evers’ office did not disclose the district’s severe financial issues to voters before the referendum was put in front of them.
MPS is not required to exceed revenue limits just because voters gave the district the authority to do so. The additional levy is expected to cost owners of a $200,000 home $432 more in property taxes in 2025, mostly due to the referendum, according to the Wisconsin Policy Forum.
MPS should not spend a penny of that money as it appears voters were misled. The referendum may not have passed if voters knew the truth. It would be irresponsible for MPS to rush to spend more taxpayer money before the full extent of the problems are known.
The health of MPS has a ripple effect throughout southeastern Wisconsin. According to DPI’s belated letter eventually making the financial crisis public, MPS’s failure to submit statutorily required financial reports jeopardizes the timing of the aid reports, negatively impacting every Wisconsin school district. That means every community in Wisconsin has a stake in this.
It’s outrageous that MPS, DPI, and Evers failed to tell voters this was happening when even DPI admits that MPS stopped turning in key financial reports as far back as September.
These agencies are failing kids. That’s the real tragedy.
Jim Piwowarczyk, the co-founder of Wisconsin Right Now.com, is a Republican candidate for the 98th Assembly District. You can learn more about Piwowarczyk’s campaign here.
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