The Milwaukee Post

Post Staff MILWAUKEE — Public school spending in Wisconsin matched the U.S. average dur- ing a five-period that ended in 2012, a report released Monday by the nonparti- san Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance said. The report examined public school spending and revenues among the 50 states during and after the Great Recession. The report found that Wisconsin dropped from the 15th highest in per-stu- dent spending in 2008 ($10,680) to 21st in 2012 ($11,042). However, Wisconsin's school spending grew 3.4 percent during the five years, which matched the national average and ranked Wisconsin 30th among all 50 states. Spending reductions in Wisconsin were attributed primarily in compensation as a result of the law known as Act 10, which effectively eliminated collective bargain- ing for most public workers. From 2008 to 2012, benefit costs in Wisconsin fell 4 per- cent. Ten other states cut these type of costs during the four years and seven states reduced theirs more than Wisconsin, the report said. Despite the reductions, Wisconsin's 2012 benefit costs per student were 16th highest among the states, the report said. The report also said: ■ Wisconsin lost school staff at nearly three times the national average. Between 2008 and 2012, it dropped 3.3 percent com- pared with 1.2 percent for the national average. During the period, 26 states cut staff, with 13 states making larger reduc- tions than Wisconsin. Nationally, school employment fell 1.2 percent from 2008 to 2012. The decline in Wisconsin staff wasn't unexpected since school enrollments dropped 0.5 percent during the period, con- tinuing a long-term trend. Nationally, enrollments fell 0.4 percent during those same years. ■ Total compensation for Wisconsin school workers, which combines salary and benefits, dropped 5.4 percent between 2011 and 2012, thanks to the Act 10 provi- sions. The average compensation fell drom $80,853 in 2011 to $76,520 in 2012. However, due to previous increases total compensa- tion rose in Wisconsin by 6 percent between 2008 and 2012, compared with 4.9 percent nationally. ■ Wisconsin ranked 12th nationally in staff compensation in 2012, even after the higher pension and health insurance con- tribution requirements took effect. However, average benefits in Wisconsin over the five years were basically unchanged while they increased 11.8 per- cent nationwide. Wisconsin ranked 10th in average benefits in 2012, down from sixth in 2008. ■ Wisconsin's revenue-limit law gener- ally allows schools to replace lost aid with local property taxes. From 2008 to 2012, local school revenues in Wisconsin rose 13.5 percent, significantly more than the national average of 4.5 percent. While local revenues per student in Wisconsin trailed the nation by 2.9 percent in 2007, they exceeded the U.S. by 9.1 percent in 2012. ■ The use of federal stimulus money and the above-average increase in local tax funding provided Wisconsin schools with a greater increase in per-student revenues during 2008 to 2012 than elsewhere — 4.7 percent versus 2.5 percent nationally — even after accounting for Wisconsin's 4.7 percent per-student revenue cut in 2012. Wisconsin's increase in total per-student revenues from 2008 to 2012 was 27th high- est in the U.S. 2 • Milwaukee County Post • September 12, 2014 volume 20, issue number 37 The Milwaukee County Post (ISSN 1544-1776) is published weekly by Conley Media, Milwaukee County 3397 South Howell Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207 For all departments call: 414.744.6370 General FAX: 414-375-7070 Classifieds: 800-762-6219 ext. 5005 Classified Fax: 262-334-6252 For display advertising inquires: Daryl Skaradzinski: General Manager - ext. 13 dskaradzinski@conleynet.com For editorial inquires: Dwayne Butler: Editor - 262-513-2626 dbutler@conleynet.com POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Milwaukee County Post 3397 S. Howell Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53207 Periodicals Postage Paid at Milwaukee, WI. Report: Wisconsin school spending matches national average How to get YOUR news in The Post The Post wants your community news. But we need your help to get announce- ments and pictures published. Submissions must be typed or emailed. No handwritten submissions will be accepted. Please send news items and photos to: dbut- ler@conleynet.com. THIS SATURDAY AT THE SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13 Presented by the Garden District Neighborhood Association with sponsorship provided by: OPEN 1PM-5PM Fall Perennial and Seed Exchange 10AM – Noon Before the Market opens come to the brick circle next to the Farmers' Market near Howard Avenue. Thin your "herd" and bring your "too manys" with you. Find something new to plant and help make the Garden District as pretty as your house! For information call Dawn at 414-379-2450. Veggies, Apples, Flowers and more! If your gardens have been challenged this summer you'll find it at the Garden District Farmers' Market. Our growers have a constant variety of items and bring you their best each week – most use organic practices – so you know it's good and good for you! Consider them Gifts! There's nothing like a handmade gift from our vendors. Natures Colors' Teas and more, Soap of the Earth, 5 Lilies Jams, Kim's sweet treats or The Bread Lady's fresh breads make your shop- ping easy. Craft vendors return on 9/27 too! This Week's Musical Guest: Brian Drow Milwaukee singer/songwriter Brian Drow per- forms original folk and pop tunes. A guitarist and singer, Brian says our market takes him back to his days busking - or performing - on the streets and markets of Europe. Chances are good he'll be joined by our friend Paul Smith! On Deck: Jay Bullock will join us on 9/20 Weekly 50/50 Raffle continues! Meet our volunteers at the info booth. Learn about what's going on in the Garden District. We have Hats, T-Shirts, and shopping bags. Buy a 50/50 raffle ticket and help the Garden District grow! Vendors Welcome Make It, Bake It or Grow It – Space is available. See our website or Facebook pages for links to applications and regulations. 240093060 Updates and schedules are at www.gardendistrictfarmersmarket.com and Like us on Facebook Mon.-Thurs. 7:30-7:00p.m.; Fri. 7:30-7:30; Sat. 7:30-5:30; Sun. 7:30-4:00 4640 W. Loomis Road, Greenfield See our ad weekly online at www.raysbutchershoppe.com! - T h i c k J u i c y S t e a k s - T h i c k J u i c y S t e a k s - – All Natural, Non-Injected, Beef, Pork & Chicken – 240093024 R ay ' s Butcher Shoppe an old fashioned Service & Quality Meat Market 414.423.1322 • 09/15 – 09/21/14 $ 3 99 lb. $ 2 99 lb. $ 2 99 lb. $ 3 99 lb. $ 3 49 lb. $ 3 99 lb. $ 3 49 lb. Ray's Fresh Homemade Italian Sausage Regular or Hot Fresh Grade A Boneless Chicken Breasts Center Cut Bread Stuffed Pork Chops Sirloin Tip Mushroom Burgers or Burgers with the Works Extra Lean Pork Cutlets Three Varieties! Ray's Homemade Bread Stuffed Chicken Breasts Ray's Homemade Beef or Pork Summer Sausage In-Store Catering Available Ray's Homemade Deli Party Trays, Cheese, Cheese & Sausage, Shrimp, Fruit Trays, Hearty Meat Trays. Please Order Ahead. Beef & Gravy, Turkey & Gravy, Hickory & cherry Wood Smoked Hams, Honey Glazed Spiral Sliced Ham. We Cater Chicken & Pig Roasts. Ray's Homemade Shrimp Salad Sour Cream & Chives or Cheese Double Baked Potato 2 in pkg Carry Out Friday Fish Frys 3 piece Dinner includes: Fries, Coleslaw, Soup and Roll. 6 & 12 Piece Buckets also available. Sunday Special Hot Baked Ham Includes 6 Free Rolls with purchase of 1# Ham. Limit 1 doz. Rolls. $ 5.99 lb. $ 3.78 $ 9.95 $ 6.99lb. ••• Custom Cut ••• Meat Package Specials Hind Quarters, Sides and More! NON TRANS FAT AVOID COSTLY PROBATE (and Confusing Trusts) Changes to Wisconsin law have now made it possible to leave your entire estate to your spouse without going through costly and time consuming probate. Your spouse can then, upon his/her death, leave everything to your children, again without probate. All this can be accom- plished without an expensive and confusing living trust. Please Call for a Free Simple Estate Planning Consultation Attorney James J. Winiarski 3625 W. Oklahoma Avenue Milwaukee (414) 383-3902 238976058

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