Public school advocates blame state neglect for school district debt, higher property taxes

Referendum season is just around the corner. With the significant increase in school property taxes, taxpayers are asking why schools need more money.  Several community leaders gathered to address that very question, provide their perspectives and offer solutions.  

Assembly Representative Lee Snodgrass, who represents the Appleton Area School District, blamed Republican policy decisions that she argued have led to chronic underfunding of public schools, forcing communities to raise property taxes to keep schools operational.

“I think the important message here today is that our public schools need to be funded appropriately by the state with your public tax dollars,” she said. “You entrust elected leaders like me to make that investment. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been happening for the last 16 years.  And you can take a look at who has been in control of the legislature.

“This is the state's problem, and the state is putting it on to the taxpayers.” 

The result of the underfunding, she emphasized, is that schools are forced to continually cut corners, increase their debt, and eventually seek help from property taxpayers.

(On Monday, both Appleton and Menasha approved placing referendums on the April ballot. Appleton will seek $15 million, while Menasha is asking for $6 million.)

That, and state-imposed revenue limits, which originated in 1993, have especially disadvantaged Appleton schools. The district currently sits atop a $13 million structural deficit. Then, too, is the matter of public schools receiving only a 35% reimbursement rate for mandated special education and the fact that state funding has not kept pace with inflation for 16 years.

The AASD School Board will meet on Jan. 12 to vote on whether to proceed with placing an operating referendum on the April 7 ballot to address the large deficit.  

“If that doesn't happen, for us to have to cut $13 million from our budget is significant,” said AASD Superintendent Greg Hartjes. “Now, like we've done for years, we start with everything that's furthest away from students, but it certainly has an impact. So, we'll look at limiting things like our capital projects budget.  Maybe we don't replace textbooks or any other type of online support for students.

“Those are all the little things that we're looking at, but that'll save us maybe three to $4 million. Everything else has to come from staffing. So obviously, we're very anxious. We're very concerned about what may happen if we don't go to referendum, or don't pass a referendum.”

James Bacon, a parent and former school board member, argued that AASD has been responsible and disciplined in its use of taxpayer dollars over the years. 

“To make ends meet, AASD has closed schools, implemented hiring freezes, cut budgets, and carefully used reserves – and still faces a $13 million operating deficit caused by state funding choices, not local overspending,” said Bacon. “AASD has also taken extra steps to protect taxpayers by paying down debt from past projects early, saving millions of dollars in interest and reducing the impact on you and me. That’s responsible financial management.”

Bacon said he wants his children to have the same educational opportunities as the previous generation.

“Like you, I want my tax dollars used wisely,” he stressed. “I also want strong public schools and a strong community. That’s why I’m proud to vote yes if AASD goes to referendum this spring – to do our part locally while the state continues to avoid doing theirs.”

Jackie Nider of the nonpartisan Fox Cities Advocates for Public Education pointed out that the Wisconsin Constitution guarantees a fully funded public education for every student.

“Over the last 12 years, (Fox Cities Advocates for Public Education) has made many efforts to engage with lawmakers and the public to explain the intricacies of school funding and the challenges our schools face,” said Nider. “The type of partisan dysfunction we have seen playing out for over a decade has left our schools underfunded and is dangerous for democracy, harmful to our communities and imperils the future of our children and grandchildren.

“The funding path we are on is unsustainable and voters are getting weary and cynical of what seems like an endless cycle of referendums because the lawmakers are not sending communities adequate funding. We need new policies now, or new lawmakers this November who will reach across the aisle and work together.”

Public school advocates blame state neglect for school district debt, higher property taxes © 2026 by Carol Lenz is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0