MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) Board of Education has unanimously adopted a resolution calling for greater transparency in how education-related property taxes are presented to Madison and Dane County taxpayers.

The resolution urges state legislators and relevant agencies to require future property tax bills to clearly distinguish local property tax dollars that support Wisconsin's public schools from those required under state law to support Wisconsin's Private School Choice Programs, commonly referred to as private school vouchers. It also encourages local governing groups and officials to support efforts that provide taxpayers with a clearer accounting of education-related property tax expenditures.

The Board of Education adopted the resolution out of a belief that taxpayers deserve clear, accurate and complete information about how their education-related property tax dollars are allocated. 

While Wisconsin school districts are required by state law to levy and remit local property taxes that support the state's voucher programs, those expenditures are not separately identified on annual property tax bills. As a result, taxpayers receive a single education tax amount without a breakdown of how those dollars are allocated among public schools and state-mandated private school choice programs.

“Greater transparency and clarity benefit taxpayers by providing a more complete understanding of how education-related property tax dollars are distributed,” reads the resolution, which was shared by Board President Savion Castro during the body’s regular meeting on Monday, July 27. “The MMSD Board of Education firmly believes that taxpayers have a right to see a full, line-item accounting of their property tax dollar expenditures on their annual statement.”

The resolution will be shared with the Madison Common Council, Dane County Board of Supervisors, Dane County executive, members of the Dane County legislative delegation, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, the governor and other interested stakeholders.

To learn more about MMSD’s budget and its impact on property taxes, and to provide feedback, please visit the district’s website.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that MMSD will be a learning community where all students are valued, challenged, supported and inspired to reach their dreams. With more than 7,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.