Wisconsin Policy Forum

The Milwaukee Public Schools "approved budget includes additional staff and salary increases that (require) ongoing costs... Yet some major sources of revenue for the district will eventually disappear, 'putting at risk the very teaching positions that MPS now seeks to create.'"

"In its analysis, the Wisconsin Policy Forum said the budget resolves the district's current deficit, but "2028 promises to be the start of even more difficult years.'"

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel quotes Forum research and our own Sara Shaw in its coverage of Thursday's school board vote on the district's 2027 budget (see link in comments). Our recently released MPS budget brief found the district’s five-year forecast projects a structural deficit for its main fund emerging as soon as 2028. Left unchecked, spending is projected to outpace revenues by $63.7 million by 2029.

"It was a trade off between giving people relief and school districts relief right now, and the state having more safety in the future."

Our president Jason Stein spoke to WKOW 27's Ryan Lynch about the failed bipartisan state budget deal that state lawmakers voted down last week. He spoke about what that outcome means for taxpayers and for state finances.