Wisconsin Assembly Republicans swiftly passed a property tax freeze plan at the Capitol Thursday afternoon, but did not address the question of where additional funding for public schools will come from.
By a 58-37 party-line vote, the bill advanced to the state Senate, where it will be debated Tuesday. One Republican joined the 36 Democrats in the Assembly in voting against the bill.
Assembly Speaker John Gard, R-Peshtigo, challenged Gov. Jim Doyle to live up to his promise to freeze property taxes.
\Two years ago Gov. Doyle raised property taxes by $165 million with one stroke of his pen when he vetoed the freeze,"" Gard said in a statement. ""Next week he will have the opportunity to freeze property taxes with one stroke of his pen by signing the bill we put on his desk.""
But Doyle prefers his own property tax freeze and will almost certainly veto the Republican plan if it passes the Senate.
Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, said he is concerned that the Republican proposal that passed Thursday does not specify where additional funding for public education will come from if property taxes are limited. Doyle's plan-which Black said also has problems-provides additional state support for education. Black cited Madison schools as an example of the effect he believes such a law would have in reducing education funding.
""The Madison School District said if the Republican bill became law, one of the ways they could meet it, they would have to eliminate [the equivalent of] the athletic programs at all Madison schools,"" Black said. ""They could also meet it by laying off about 50 teachers.""
Republican leadership has said they are committed to funding education, but since the bill does not clearly indicate to what extent schools will receive state funding, the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee would likely have to sort it out, Black said.
-Michael Worringer
