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Gov. Tony Evers on the money with claim about increase to general school aid
If Your Time is short
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The 2019-2021 budget allocated an additional $329,942,000 — a 3.5% increase — for general school aid.
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That’s the biggest increase in spending for that pot of money since the 2005-2007 budget.
Gov. Tony Evers struck a somber tone with his State of the State address on Jan. 12, 2021, as he remembered the lives lost to COVID-19 and reflected on the myriad challenges of 2020.
But he also used part of his speech to touch on some of the state’s accomplishments before the pandemic killed thousands and forced many Wisconsin residents into unemployment.
Among them: Boosting funding for public schools.
"We put $330 million in general school aids — the largest in more than a decade," Evers said.
Is Evers on the money? Let’s dig in.
When asked for evidence to support the governor’s claim, spokeswoman Britt Cudaback cited breakdowns by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau that detail the changes to general school funding, or equalization aids, in each budget dating back to 2005-2007. (Reminder: Wisconsin operates on a two-year budget cycle.)
General aid is the primary pot of money for school districts, separate from categorical spending for specific needs such as transportation or meals. To assess changes over time, the Fiscal Bureau compares funding in the current budget to the second year of the previous budget — also known as the base year.
According to an analysis of the 2019-2021 budget, that spending plan allocated an additional $329,942,000 — a 3.5% increase — for general school aid when compared to 2018-2019. So Evers had roughly the right number in his State of the State address.
But was that the biggest hike in more than a decade?
Here are the changes in school spending over the past 16 years as documented by the Fiscal Bureau:
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2019-2021: increase of $329,942,000 (3.5%)
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2017-2019: increase of $72,750,000 (0.8%)
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2015-2017: increase of $108,137,500 (1.2%)
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2013-2015: increase of $170,239,100 (2%)
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2011-2013: decrease of $749,388,000 (8.1%)
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2009-2011: decrease of $294,003,800 (3.1%)
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2007-2009: increase of $76,756,000 (0.8%)
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2005-2007: increase of $701,600,000 (8.1%)
Evers is correct on that front, too. The 3.5% boost for 2019-2021 is easily the largest since the 2005-2007 budget, even when accounting for inflation.
In his State of the State address, Evers said "we put $330 million in general school aids — the largest in more than a decade."
The 2019-2021 budget increased general aid by 3.5% when compared to the previous year. That’s the biggest hike for that pot of money since the 2005-2007 budget.
We rate this claim True.
Our Sources
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Email from Britt Cudaback, deputy communications director for Gov. Tony Evers, Jan. 14, 2021.
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Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Comparative Summary of Provisions: 2019 Act 9, August. 2019.
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Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Comparative Summary of Provisions: 2017 Act 59, November 2017.
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Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Comparative Summary of Provisions: 2015 Act 55, September 2015.
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Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Comparative Summary of Provisions: 2013 Act 20, August 2013.
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Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Comparative Summary of Budget Recommendations: 2011 Act 32, Volume II, August 2011.
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Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Comparative Summary of Budget Recommendations: 2009 Act 28, Volume II, October 2009.
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Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Comparative Summary of Budget Recommendations: 2007 Act 20, Volume II, March 2008.
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Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Comparative Summary of Budget Provisions: Enacted as 2005 Act 25, Volume II, October 2005.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI Inflation Calculator, accessed Jan. 25, 2021.
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Gov. Tony Evers on the money with claim about increase to general school aid
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