Frederica Freyberg:

But first, ’tis the season. No, not turkey or holiday shopping, agency budget requests, as the governor works up the next two-year fiscal plan, even as he throws his hat in the ring for president. And those agency requests exceed projected 2015-17 revenues by $2.2 billion according to a just released annual fiscal report from the Department of Administration. Agencies, including the Department of Public Instruction, where the state superintendent is laying out a plan that would spend nearly $700 million more on k-12 schools. We sat down with Tony Evers and started by asking, why so much?

Tony Evers:

It’s not so much. I mean, percentage-wise it’s not– You know, first year of the biennium it’s kind of within the cost of living. But second of all, our schools have been held under the cost of living for the several last biennium, and the biennium before there was actually a decrease in funding. So it’s an opportunity to catch up and it's an opportunity, frankly, to move the state back towards two-thirds funding, which we’re a long way away from that. But it’s a step in the right direction. And, you know, we’re not the heavy spender here. Transportation is asking for more money, Medicaid is asking for more money. I think ours is pretty reasonable, frankly.

Frederica Freyberg:

Now, does your plan roll in the $750 million in school levy tax credits and the first dollar credit into your budget?

Tony Evers:

Yes, absolutely. Right now school districts have to artificially levy for that amount of money, and it makes their tax levies looks disproportionately high. That money is for schools. It should go directly to schools.

Frederica Freyberg:

You also want to increase the revenue limit by about $200 per student. Why, in your mind, is it necessary to increase the amount locals can tax?

Tony Evers:

Well, it’s the amount locals can spend. And the $200 and the $204 next year, that’s barely cost of living. And so I think that’s very reasonable.

Frederica Freyberg:

Do these increases that you’re talking about make up for past cuts to schools?

Tony Evers:

No. Yeah, even when we take a look at some of the categorical things, special education, that hasn’t been raised in a couple biennium and that needs additional resources. We have more special education, students with disabilities than ever before. We also have many more English language learners than ever before, which is reimbursed at paltry 8%. And so no, it doesn’t make up for the past. It’s just kind of getting us moving forward.

Frederica Freyberg:

Tell me about some of the important features of your budget plan in terms of investments in students.

Tony Evers:

Well, first off, the state aid formula changes and the additional resources. We’re looking there. But more importantly are some of the targeted ones. As I mentioned, students with disabilities, we’re looking at really ratcheting up our work around English language learners, and several other really targeted areas. Even some areas where the governor and I have been in agreement on, taking a look at how students with disabilities can transition into the work force, some additional resources there, mental health issues for kids. We have lots of things to take care of in our schools and this is one of the ways we do it, by seeking the resources we need to make it happen.

Frederica Freyberg:

You have a couple of prongs in there talking about technical education and also public or school safety. What are those?

Tony Evers:

Well, the school safety piece is around some grant program, a grant program we’ll create to provide resources to school districts for safety issues, whether it’s for staff training, for some infrastructure issues, and that’s obviously critical. In addition, several of the others are really important around career and technical education. Again, that’s an area the governor and I really connect on. And the ability for us to take a look at how we get students prepared for the future, making sure that they’re on track for what their future goals are as far as careers.

Frederica Freyberg:

Still holding tight to Common Core?

Tony Evers:

Absolutely. And it’s not me holding tight. It’s school districts implementing it as we speak, with great success. So yes, I support it and 400-plus school districts do, so we’re moving forward. It’s working.

Frederica Freyberg:

There’s another piece in your budget, kind of moving Milwaukee school voucher program into general state funds as opposed to it being taxed at the city level by Milwaukee taxpayers. Why?

Tony Evers:

It’s a state-led program. It’s not a Milwaukee Public Schools program. It’s a state program. If we’re going to have vouchers, it should be paid for by the state. It is in Racine and Kenosha. It should be in Milwaukee. It’s a $50 million additional tax burden on the taxpayers of Milwaukee.

Frederica Freyberg:

So far the reaction from the Republican majority legislature seems to be, to your budget, well, it’s your job to ask for this money and good for you for doing that, but it seems kind of unlikely that you’ll get it. What’s your reaction to that?

Tony Evers:

Well, I find that difficult to understand. With a transportation increase of $785 million, plus $300 million moved from the general fund to the transportation fund, which is about a billion dollars, if you add it up, the reaction around that isn’t, geez, this is bad for taxpayers. This is wonderful. Well, our public school kids are equally as important as roads. I love roads. I love road builders. But I also believe that our public school kids have some priority in that arena. We’re going to fight for it. We have people supporting our program every single day. School Administrators Alliance jumped onboard today. So, yeah, it's my job, but it’s also something our districts and parents are telling us is important.

Frederica Freyberg:

Where do Wisconsin public schools stand now? I mean, have they been hurt?

Tony Evers:

Oh, I believe so. I mean, every time I get real down, I’ll go into a classroom and things are cool. But I well tell you that the amount of resources that are needed versus the amount of resources that are provided, that is an absolute disconnect. We need to– I know the Republicans and the Democrats in the legislature care about children and care about public education. Just a matter of priorities. And we believe that our priorities are just as important as having double decker road across– by Miller Park in Milwaukee. It’s important. Our future of our state are our kids, and we intend to make that argument.

Frederica Freyberg:

All right. Tony Evers, thanks very much.

Tony Evers:

Great. Thank you.