May 13, 2026 11a
(WGTD)---The state Senate and Assembly are expected to convene Wednesday to start debating Gov. Evers’ mid-budget deal with Republican legislative leaders over property tax relief and funding increases for K-though-12 schools.
Its future is uncertain, as many Democrats have spoken out against it, including State Representative Angelina Cruz of Racine, who also serves as president of Racine Educators United. She says the proposal is a temporary fix to school funding issues that doesn’t go far enough.
According to numbers from the legislative fiscal bureau, Kenosha Unified, for instance, would receive nearly $2 million more in special education funding to cover the nearly completed school year. There’d be a $5 million increase for the next school year. But the district estimates the increase wouldn’t be enough to cover a projected deficit of $8 million. That’s before any salary increases are even discussed.
The deal doesn’t do anything for the state’s technical education system. According to a statement from the system office, technical colleges in Wisconsin have been forced to limit enrollment, delay program development and maintain waiting lists.
The level of support among Republican legislators is unclear.
The deal includes a couple of mechanisms for lowering property taxes and also offers rebate checks.
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