– Letter to the Editor –

School Vouchers and Funding of Public Schools Public education is the foundation of a strong democracy, and it’s important to understand how school vouchers impact our local public schools and tax bills. Under Wisconsin’s Parental Choice Programs, state-funded voucher payments are given to participating private schools. These funds come directly from education-related property taxes, diverting money from public schools to private institutions. While families who choose private schools get support through vouchers, the rest of us have no say, as our property taxes are redirected. In Chippewa County, three private schools – McDonell Area and Liberty Christian in Chippewa Falls, and St. Joseph in Boyd – received $3,258,305.22, in voucher payments, for 2024–25. This caused a $2,816,188.78 aid reduction, across seven public school districts. Reductions include – Cadott, $273,877; Cornell, $26,616.20; Lake Holcombe, $0; Bloomer, $203,771; Chippewa Falls, $2,012,192; New Auburn, $20,474; and Stanley-Boyd: $279,257. As a result, public schools are forced to hold referendums to recoup lost funds, meaning taxpayers are asked to pay again, without a say in the initial diversion of funds. On top of this, families using vouchers can deduct up to $4,000, per kindergarten through eighth-grade student, and $10,000, per high school student, from their state income taxes, using Schedule PS and Form 1. The voucher system shifts public resources to private education, forces public schools to seek extra funding through referendums and creates unequal financial burdens. Some families receive both vouchers and tax deductions, while others face higher taxes and reduced public school support – with no choice in the matter. Susan Edstrom, New Auburn