Walker vetoes low-revenue increase for schools

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker has vetoed a provision in the state budget that would have allowed low-spending public school districts to raise more money.

Walker announced the veto Wednesday, saying the move would have resulted in schools being able to levy more in property taxes without voter input.

The provision was spearheaded by the Republican co-chair of the Legislature’s budget-writing Joint Finance Committee, Rep. John Nygren.

It increased the maximum that low-spending, mostly rural, districts can spend from a combination of local property taxes and state aid per student from $9,100 to $9,300 this year and $9,400 the next.

The increased spending would have been paid for with a mixture of state aid and higher local property taxes.

Nygren did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

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