Media Mentions – MPS Referendum

March 20, 2024 – Daily Reporter

Wisconsin school referendums will seek more than a billion dollars in April

Wisconsin schools in April will ask voters to approve more than $1.3 billion for building repairs, maintenance and operating costs. This includes a quarter-billion-dollar revenue increase for Milwaukee Public Schools, which has received different responses from the city business community and its leadership.

“This referendum is being brought forward less than five years after passage of an $87 million revenue limit increase without a clear plan on how to improve educational outcomes, even as academic performance continues to be at or near the bottom of all major city school districts.

We cannot continue to perpetuate the same strategies and expect different outcomes.”

- MMAC President Dale Kooyenga

March 20, 2024 – Spectrum News

Milwaukee residents voice concerns over MPS referendum

“An increase in property taxes will push housing cost higher and make Milwaukee less affordable. I don’t know about you, but the cost of everything else in my life has skyrocketed. Insurance, groceries, gas, health care, medication. I can’t afford this now and so can’t many more Milwaukeeans.”

- LaToya Woods, Lifelong Milwaukee resident & parent with kids in the district

“Families and children that attend MPS are the losers. The MPS district needs a comprehensive plan to improve the future of our children. Vote ‘no.’” 

- Robin Kitzrow, Retired MPS educator

March 20, 2024 – FOX6 News Milwaukee

MPS referendum: School staff cuts possible, principal says

"It is detrimental to ask socially economic disadvantaged families to pay more when they are barely making ends meet. I just can’t afford this now, and neither can so many Milwaukeeans."

- LaToya Woods, Lifelong Milwaukee resident & parent with kids in the district

March 19, 2024 – CBS58

Lawmakers, business group at odds about Milwaukee Public Schools referendum

"If we're going to have a vibrant, healthy community, we need to have affordable housing, and if you look at the impact this quarter billion-dollar increase in property taxes will have, it will make Milwaukee one of the most unaffordable cities to live in for our middle class.

There's been no articulated plan from Milwaukee Public Schools to say exactly where this is going," 

- MMAC President Dale Kooyenga

March 19, 2024 – The Black Chronicle

WILL launches tax hike price calculator to oppose MPS referendum

The latest opposition to Milwaukee Public Schools’ proposed quarter-billion-dollar tax hike is a calculator. The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty on Tuesday launched its property tax calculator to let people in Milwaukee know just how much more they will pay if the $252 million tax increase passes in April.

March 19, 2024 – FOX6 News Milwaukee

MPS referendum: Early voting opens with school funding on ballot

"Inflation is already up, people are having problems with buying food. Taxes, homeowner taxes are up, and everything is up – this is not a good time."

- Rosie King, whose grandchild is an MPS student

March 19, 2024 – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MPS is near and dear to me. Here's why I can't support $252 million referendum. | Opinion

By William Andrekopoulos

While the strategic intent of the referendum is to support students’ academic performance, it will ultimately lead to financial hardships for families.

“Based on the district’s strategic plan, the referendum will help support the status quo, not allowing the district to seriously restructure and downsize to meet its future needs and provide greater resources to all MPS students.

…the decision by the Milwaukee Board of School Directors to go out to the community for the highest tax increase in the history of MPS and put that burden on the poor minority families in this community who are already struggling is shocking! Especially since there will be a direct correlation to the academic performance and social emotional well-being of the students in the district.”

- William Andrekopoulos, Former MPS superintendent

March 15, 2024 – BizTimes

MMAC beefing up opposition to MPS referendum

“No one is immune from increased housing costs should this massive tax increase pass. Area landlords have spoken loud and clear. Rents will spike if this measure is approved.”

MPS is a critical part of K-12 education in the city of Milwaukee. We also recognize that more than 40% of city students receiving public funding attend schools outside of MPS. A comprehensive effort to improve student outcomes is critical to the region’s future, however the proposal to raise an additional $252 million from taxpayers in this MPS proposal raises more questions than answers.

- MMAC President Dale Kooyenga

The Wisconsin Policy Forum’s report suggests MPS leaders might strengthen their cause by “sharing a formal plan for continuing to adjust facilities and staffing levels in accordance with reduced enrollment.”

“Local residents and businesses should know whether the extra amount they are being asked to pay might be a pathway toward improved offerings and outcomes,” the report states, “as opposed to simply another effort to stave off programmatic reductions and financial instability.”

- Wisconsin Policy Forum
The ABCs of the 2024 MPS Referendum

March 13, 2024 – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

What does MPS referendum mean for Milwaukee? What voters need to know. | Opinion

by Rob Henken, Jason Stein and Sara Shaw

The nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum provides insights on an April 2 MPS referendum which asks voters for up to $252 million over four years.

> View the full report, The ABCs of the 2024 MPS Referendum

• When phased in over four years, the extra $252 million from the referendum would reverse the decline but still leave the district well short of its 2004 purchasing power. Because of the way the state’s school funding formula works, these additional dollars would not come solely from residents’ increased property taxes but also from additional state aid.
   
• After reaching a high of 178 in 2008, the number of MPS school buildings dropped to 150, according to the district’s 2022 financial report. Despite this recent decline, however, the number of school buildings in 2022 was only 3.2% lower than three decades ago despite a much larger drop in enrollment over that period.

• Yet opponents have asked how well district leaders have set the stage for such a big ask from voters. Indeed, a huge unanswered question is whether the referendum amount is predicated on plans to continue expanding educational offerings to students; whether it is the estimated amount needed to maintain the status quo; or whether it already accounts for right-sizing plans.

March 13, 2024 – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MMAC launches TV, radio, digital ads urging residents to vote against MPS referendum

"We're very committed to seeing success with Milwaukee Public Schools," he said. "We just don't see this quarter billion dollar increase really having a robust plan associated with it. We just wanted to hit the pause button to have a more detailed plan as far as what the plan is going forward to improve educational results and be a better steward of taxpayer dollars." 

- MMAC President Dale Kooyenga

March 9, 2024 – WISN

Get the Facts: What the MPS referendum means for taxpayers

"We need to have an understanding of how these dollars will move the needle in terms of student outcomes, or addressing some significant financial challenges we know the district has," 

- Colleston Morgan, Executive Director of City Forward Collective

"I'm retired. It's a big hit for the economy. Prices are up on everything. It's not fair to the taxpayer. The City of Milwaukee upped the sales tax," a Milwaukee man told 12 News about why he plans to vote no.

March 8, 2024 – Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

OPINION: Milwaukee's students cannot afford for MPS to (just) maintain and sustain: We need a plan

By Colleston Morgan

“MPS has only promised that these funds will be used to ‘maintain and sustain’ the status quo – and Milwaukee’s students, families and residents deserve far more. We need a plan — and until there’s a plan, Milwaukeeans should vote no on this referendum.

Maintaining the status quo in Milwaukee means remaining in an academic crisis.

Last year, nine in 10 MPS students did not meet grade-level expectations in math and reading. MPS’ scores on the Nation’s Report Card are lower than peer districts, in some cases by two full grade levels. For Black students – nearly 80% of MPS’ enrollment – academic performance remains the worst in the nation."

- Colleston Morgan, Executive Director of City Forward Collective

March 8, 2024 – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

OPINION: Lower quality. Higher prices. Board hasn't made case for MPS referendum. 

By John Schlifske

“Less than five years ago, MPS passed an $87 million referendum which resulted in Milwaukee property taxes going up. In addition, the district received almost $800 million of one-time financial support from the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, quality went down as did attendance.

More money, worse results. MPS put an additional quarter-billion dollar referendum on the April 2 ballot, again which would be paid for through increased property taxes,” 

- John Schlifske, CEO of Northwestern Mutual

March 7, 2024 – WTMJ

Milwaukee business community hesitant on MPS referendum

“You’re looking at significant increases in the cost of living in Milwaukee; making Milwaukee one of the most expensive housing markets in the Midwest.

For affordable housing, for attracting and retaining businesses, and simply accountability, MMAC has come out against the MPS referendum.”

- MMAC President Dale Kooyenga