Wisconsin Superintendents Urge State to Use Budget Surplus for Schools

Gov. Evers proposes using $1.3 billion from $5.9 billion surplus for property tax relief and school funding, but Republican lawmakers push for tax cuts.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 7:07pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Superintendents from the five largest school districts in Wisconsin, including Green Bay, have sent a letter to state lawmakers requesting that a portion of the state's $5.9 billion budget surplus be used to fund public schools. Governor Tony Evers has proposed allocating $1.3 billion from the surplus for property tax relief and school funding, but Republican legislators are advocating for the surplus to be used primarily for tax cuts.

Why it matters

Wisconsin's public schools have faced funding challenges, with school district budgets not keeping pace with inflation. The debate over how to use the state's budget surplus highlights the ongoing tension between funding education and providing tax relief, as lawmakers balance the needs of schools and taxpayers.

The details

In their letter to the state legislature, the superintendents argued that their districts are "hurting" and in need of additional support. Green Bay Superintendent Vicki Bayer stated, "We need some relief, we need some support, and appropriately funding public education would be a good start." However, Republican state representative David Steffen emphasized that property tax relief should be the priority, saying, "Property tax relief, I tell you, that's going to be part of what we're going to be planning for the surplus." Steffen also pointed to increases in school staff despite declining enrollment, a point that Bayer defended by saying, "We want more adults in our building working with our kids, and if we can make that happen, we're going to make that happen."

  • On January 27, 2026, Superintendents from the five largest Wisconsin school districts sent a letter to the state legislature requesting that a portion of the budget surplus be used for school funding.
  • In his 2026 budget proposal, Governor Tony Evers called for $1.3 billion from the $5.9 billion surplus to be allocated for property tax relief and school funding.

The players

Tony Evers

The Governor of Wisconsin who has proposed using $1.3 billion from the state's $5.9 billion budget surplus for property tax relief and school funding.

Vicki Bayer

The Superintendent of the Green Bay school district, one of the five largest in Wisconsin, who argued that schools need relief and support from the state's budget surplus.

David Steffen

A Republican state representative from Howard, Wisconsin, who emphasized that property tax relief should be the priority for the state's budget surplus.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Our families and our school districts are hurting. We need some relief, we need some support, and appropriately funding public education would be a good start.”

— Vicki Bayer, Green Bay Superintendent

“Property tax relief, I tell you, that's going to be part of what we're going to be planning for the surplus.”

— David Steffen, Republican State Representative

What’s next

The state legislature will need to debate and approve a budget that determines how the $5.9 billion surplus will be allocated, with the debate centering on the balance between funding for schools and providing tax relief.

The takeaway

The debate over the use of Wisconsin's budget surplus highlights the ongoing tension between supporting public education and providing tax relief, as lawmakers must balance the needs of schools and taxpayers. The outcome of this debate will have significant implications for the future of education funding in the state.