MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — Early voting has begun in Milwaukee and ballots ask taxpayers to spend hundreds of dollars to support Milwaukee Public Schools, but not everyone is participating.
The Metropolitan Milwaukee Merchants Association (MMAC) is campaigning against the tax increase resulting from the MPS referendum.
“We can't always give you what you need. We'll give you a blank check,” MMAC President Dale Kooyenga said.
MMAC launched the “Enough is Enough” campaign, asking voters to select “no” on their MPS referendum ballots.
“The last referendum was for $88 million. This referendum is over $250 million, and the middle class of Milwaukee can't afford that,” Kooyenga said.
If passed, property taxes would increase by more than $200 per $100,000 of property value.
“Building vibrant, healthy communities requires affordable housing. Looking at the impact of this $2.5 billion property tax increase, Milwaukee is one of the least affordable places to live. It's going to be one of the cities 'for our middle class,''' Kooyenga said.
Proponents of the referendum claim it would provide an additional $252 million in critical school funding.
“To protect students from a devastating 13% cut to school budgets that would result in the elimination of teachers and other essential staff, MPS We must vote yes.”
Several city officials and state legislators support the referendum, including Chris Larson, state senator for District 7, home of MPS.
He said MMAC and its affiliates are lobbying for their own tax breaks.
“They have received $2.9 billion in benefits over the past 10 years through a tax cut called the Agricultural Manufacturing Tax Credit. They're trying to get you to vote no.'That's going to help our kids,'' Larson said.
Other supporters say these school referendums are necessary because state funding continues to be scarce.
“There is no reason for schools to hold a referendum when it costs more to incarcerate kids than to educate them,” said District 6 State Sen. LaTonya Johnson.
Meanwhile, MMAC supports MPS but says the district should focus more on managing its current budget.
“There's no clear plan from Milwaukee Public Schools as to where this is going to go,” Kooyenga said.