Budget surplus agreement announced
By Mike Barry | May 11, 2026
Dear SAA Colleagues:
The bipartisan budget surplus agreement announced today by Governor Evers includes new funding for special education and general school aids, two of SAA’s top budget priorities. We sincerely appreciate this effort to invest in Wisconsin’s kids and schools.
For our school district leaders, we are seeking important details that have yet to be announced, and we ask for your patience until this agreement is voted into law.
Based on information released today, approximately $300 million of a proposed $600 million K-12 investment will fund much-needed improvements in special education categorical aid. The remaining $300 million, plus an additional $50 million, will fund property tax relief. We expect to learn more about the agreement as early as tomorrow morning.
Here is the text of the Governor’s announcement:
Gov. Evers Signs Executive Order, Clearing Way for Legislature to Approve Blockbuster Bipartisan Deal Announced Today
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today signed Executive Order #292, clearing the way for the Wisconsin State Legislature to approve the blockbuster bipartisan deal announced earlier today. Gov. Evers, Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester), and Wisconsin State Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) today, after months of bipartisan negotiations and work to reach consensus, announced they reached agreement on a blockbuster bipartisan proposal to build upon the bipartisan investments and agreements approved in the 2025-27 Biennial Budget to use a portion of the state’s readily available state surplus to invest in Wisconsin’s kids and K-12 schools, provide property tax relief statewide, and help working families afford rising costs. The bipartisan package invests over $600 million in Wisconsin’s K-12 schools, including providing the largest increase to the state’s special education reimbursement rate in state history to attain 50 percent as well as investing $300 million in general school aids; provides tens of millions of dollars in statewide property tax relief through Wisconsin Technical College System aid; makes direct payments to Wisconsin’s working families who are struggling to keep up with rising costs; and eliminates state income tax on tipped and overtime income.
The blockbuster deal negotiated and agreed upon by Gov. Evers, Speaker Vos, and Majority Leader LeMahieu: Includes the largest increase to the state’s special education reimbursement rate in state history to attain 50 percent, investing over $600 million in Wisconsin’s K-12 schools, on top of the already historic nearly $1.4 billion provided in the 2025-27 Biennial Budget, including $300 million in property tax relief through general school aids; Provides an additional $50 million in property tax relief for Wisconsinites statewide in addition to the above $300 million in general school aids; Eliminates the income tax on cash tips and overtime income for Wisconsin taxpayers; and Returns over $850 million of the surplus to Wisconsinites, providing direct support to over 3 million Wisconsinites to respond to rising costs. The bipartisan deal will be taken up by the Wisconsin State Legislature yet this week, ensuring the state has the maximum available time to get the negotiated investments out to schools as soon as possible, some even before the current fiscal year ends at the end of June.
Under the agreement reached between Gov. Evers and GOP leaders, Executive Order #292 clears the way for the Wisconsin State Legislature to convene for the sole and exclusive purpose of approving the bipartisan deal anytime between today, Mon., May 11 at 3 p.m., and Fri., May 15 by 5 p.m.
The bipartisan deal is then set to be taken up by the Wisconsin State Legislature’s state budget committee, the Joint Committee on Finance, on Tues., May 12, 2026. The Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate are expected to take up the proposal on Wed., May 13, 2026. Gov. Evers anticipates signing the proposal as early as next week.
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Contact Your Legislators: Finish the Job on Special Education Funding
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 20, 2026
Policymakers in Madison continue to negotiate how to allocate the state’s surplus. While it is encouraging that special education remains consistently included across proposals focused on tax relief, the work is not done. We continue to hear familiar and inaccurate arguments used to justify inaction.
Let’s be clear: It is simply not true that school districts are “gaming the system” by over-identifying students for special education. The math does not support that claim.
Since 2000:
- Special education costs in Wisconsin have increased by nearly $1 billion
- The state has provided only about $250 million in additional support
- That leaves schools covering roughly $750 million in unreimbursed, mandated costs
These are not optional services. Special education is required under both state and federal law, and districts must meet these obligations regardless of the level of state support. When the state falls short, local districts are forced to shift resources from general education or rely more heavily on property taxes.
The ask is simple:
Use a portion of the state’s $2.5 billion surplus to fulfill the shortfall of funding for special education and provide property tax relief to our communities.
Take Action Today:
Reach out to your legislators and urge them to:
- Support using surplus funds to meet at least the promised 42% and 45% reimbursement rates
- Provide certainty for school district budgets
- Reduce pressure on local property taxpayers
School districts are making staffing and programming decisions right now for the upcoming school year. Delays in action only make those decisions more difficult. If you need help crafting a message specific to your district, please don’t hesitate to reach out. To find your legislator’s contact information, please click here.
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Surplus Negotiations Continue: Now Is the Time to Act on Special Education & Property Tax Relief
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 13, 2026
Recent reports indicate that Assembly Republicans have a framework for a potential agreement with Governor Evers. While details and a timeline for action remain unclear, in a social media post yesterday, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said:
“Following intensive discussions with Governor Evers, spanning almost a month, we are working towards returning the tax surplus to the people. Our proposal encompasses property tax relief, rebate checks, tax exemptions on tips and overtime, and enhanced special education funding for our schools. Let’s hope we can convene the Legislature (we need the GOP State Senate to agree) soon so we can get this package enacted.”
As with the framework of any deal, the devil is in the details, which have yet to be released. It remains clear that any proposal will likely face challenges in the Senate, but the fact that negotiations between the Assembly majority and the Governor have produced a potential path forward is an encouraging step.
At this stage, school leaders must continue engaging with legislators and urging action. Districts are making staffing and programming decisions right now for the upcoming school year. An investment in special education would have an immediate impact by increasing the reimbursement rate and providing much-needed budget stability.
The message is simple:
Wisconsin has a projected $2.5 billion surplus. Using a portion of that surplus to fulfill the state’s commitment to special education funding should be a top priority.
- It would take approximately $200 million to meet the promised reimbursement rates of 42% and 45%.
- That is a small fraction of the surplus, leaving significant room for additional investments in special education aid and tax relief measures.
- Importantly, increasing special education reimbursement is also a form of property tax relief, reducing the need for districts to rely on local levies to maintain operations.
Lawmakers have an opportunity to both deliver on their commitment to students and address affordability concerns for Wisconsin taxpayers.
Now is the time to reach out to your legislators and urge them to:
- At a minimum, fulfill the promised investment in special education, and
- Pair that investment with meaningful property tax relief for communities across the state.
If you need your legislators’ contact information, please use the “find my legislators” link.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.
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Spring Elections & Claims v. Realities on School Funding
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 9, 2026
Voters across Wisconsin went to the ballot box on Tuesday. While the election resulted in a decisive win for Justice-elect Taylor, school referendum outcomes were more mixed, with a passage rate of approximately 60%. That marks a decline from recent cycles and is likely due, at least in part, to property tax increases tied to policy decisions made in Madison during the last state budget. You can view a full list of referendum results here or visit the DPI website for a more detailed breakdown.
At the same time, as surplus negotiations continue, there appears to be a coordinated effort by groups that traditionally align with conservative positions to scrutinize how K-12 dollars are spent. These claims often lack important context and risk pitting communities against their local schools, without fully acknowledging the realities facing students, educators, and districts across the state. Recently, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) published an op-ed titled “Property taxes are high, but how are school districts actually spending your money?” that makes several claims about school district spending without important context.
If this op-ed appears in your local paper, here are a few simple talking points to help respond. As always, the most effective message is grounded in your district’s local data and experience.
While school districts across Wisconsin value their strong partnerships with local employers and industry, the tone of this piece from the state’s largest business lobbying organization overlooks a fundamental reality: the long-term success of Wisconsin’s economy depends on the students we are preparing today.
Claim vs. Reality: Property Taxes & School Funding
Claim: The “400-year veto” is causing property tax increases
Reality: Property taxes are driven by multiple factors, not a single veto.
- The veto preserved $325 per-pupil revenue limit authority, but:
- It did NOT increase state general aid alongside it
- Historically, when revenue limits increased, the state offset property taxes with more general aid
- In the most recent budget:
- Revenue limits increased
- General aid did NOT increase proportionally
Claim: Schools are fully funded at record levels
Reality: “Record funding” ignores inflation and rising costs. Per-pupil funding is higher than in 2000. Education costs have outpaced inflation, schools face major cost drivers:
- Special education (mandated, underfunded)
- Health insurance, transportation, utilities
- Property and cybersecurity Insurance
- Technology and School Safety needs have risen since 2000
Claim: Schools are bloated with administrators and non-teaching staff
Reality: Many factors drive staffing changes:
What’s driving staffing changes:
- Special education needs that requires more aides, therapists, specialists
- Mental health and behavioral support
- Safety and compliance requirements
- Increased reporting, legal, and parent communication demands
- Many “non-teaching staff” are direct student supports.
Claim: Declining enrollment should mean lower costs
Reality: School costs don’t decline proportionally with enrollment.
- Schools have fixed costs:
- Buildings, transportation routes, staffing minimums
- Fewer students does not equal proportionally lower costs
- Student needs are becoming more complex and costly
Claim: Property taxes are high because schools overspend
Reality: Property taxes rise when state funding doesn’t keep pace.
- When the state:
- Underfunds mandates (especially special education)
- Does not increase general aid
- Districts must:
- Shift costs to local property taxes
- Or go to a referendum
Claim: The UW charges less tuition than the average K-12 per pupil spending, so it should be more than enough
Reality: This is a misleading comparison.
- That figure includes all costs, not just classroom instruction.
- Comparing K-12 to college tuition is flawed:
- K-12 is universal, mandated, and comprehensive
- Schools must serve all students, including high-cost needs
- Only about 20% of the UW budget comes from tuition and fees
- Policymakers have frozen UW tuition increases, pushing costs to other areas, like non-resident tuition increases
Key takeaways:
- Schools aren’t overspending, they’re covering mandated costs the state doesn’t fully fund.
- Special education alone forces districts to transfer millions from general funds, driving local tax pressure.
- Comparing K-12 funding to college tuition ignores the full scope of services schools must provide.
- What’s labeled ‘bureaucracy’ is often direct support for students: mental health, special education, and safety.
- In 2000, Wisconsin ranked 3rd highest for overall tax; in 2023, Wisconsin ranked 34th.
- In 2000, Wisconsin ranked 8th on K-12 spending as a percentage of personal income; in 2024, Wisconsin ranked 34th.
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Spring Election Snapshot: School Referenda and What It Means for Wisconsin
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 7, 2026
Today, Wisconsinites head to the polls to cast their votes in several important races, including a State Supreme Court contest that, notably, has drawn far less spending and media attention than last year’s high-profile election. While statewide races often dominate headlines, there is significant activity at the local level that will have a direct impact on schools and communities across Wisconsin.
Voters in 72 school districts will weigh in on 74 school district referenda questions.
- 12 are for borrowing (capital projects)
- 6 are recurring operational referenda
- 56 are non-recurring referenda to exceed the revenue limit
These questions reflect the ongoing challenges districts face in maintaining programs, staffing, and facilities within Wisconsin’s current school finance structure. This spring marks a decline in the number of referenda questions compared to recent years, but the number remains historically significant:
- April 2025: 89 questions in 81 districts
- April 2024: 93 questions in 86 districts
- April 2022: 80 questions in 70 districts
School districts are increasingly turning to local voters to fund essential operations. Whether to maintain educational programming, address rising costs, or invest in infrastructure, these referenda highlight the growing reliance on local solutions in the absence of sufficient and predictable state funding. Each referendum reflects the unique needs of a community, but collectively, they tell a broader story about the pressures facing Wisconsin schools. As results come in, they will not only shape local district budgets but also contribute to the ongoing statewide conversation about the needs of our students and schools.
Stay tuned for a full breakdown of results and trends following today’s election.
Referendum results will be available on DPI’s website as they are reported. SAA will also provide a complete statewide summary once all results are finalized.
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