Wisconsin Spent 8.5% More Than U.S. to Operate Schools
Per Student Salaries Near Parity, Benefits Exceed U.S. Norm by 50%

MADISON—U.S. Census figures released this month showed that Wisconsin spent $10,190 per pupil to operate public schools in 2006. A new report from the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX) analyzed these data in greater detail and found that school expenditures here ranked 14th highest among the states and 8.5% above the U.S. average ($9,390). The main reason for the above-average ranking was fringe benefits that exceeded national averages by more than 50%....

Examining specifically instruction-related expenses, WISTAX calculated that, in 2006, salaries ($3,939 per pupil) were 2.7% above the U.S. ($3,835) and 16th highest nationally. Benefits were 52.5% above the U.S. mean ($1,854 vs. $1,216) and sixth highest. Instructional costs for items other than compensation ($364), e.g., books and supplies, were 39.7% below average ($583) and ranked 44th in the U.S....

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Savvy lisener emails:

While it will probably be an eye glazer for most of the media, I think this story is important and shocking.  In WI we keep getting fed this myth of “we’re a high tax state because we get such outstanding services.”  This report shows again that in the single largest part of the state budget (more than 40% of all GPR) and the biggest part of your individual tax bill isn’t doing squat to buy us more in terms of educational product.  Our educational spending of 8.5% higher than the national average is almost all used up to fuel benefit spending (benefits – mind you that go to union members whether they are actually teaching or not).

So contrary to the “high tax – high service” myth, the reality in Wisconsin education is “high tax – average service – extravagant benefits.”   In short, heavily burdened Wisconsin taxpayers aren’t really “investing in our children’s education.”   We are investing in employee benefits. 

The ramifications of that situation are many and dire.  I was at a speech where a Wall Street Journal reporter, commenting on the disastrous decline of the US Auto industry, noted that, “The fact is, General Motors is no longer an automobile company.  It is a pension and health care company that makes a few cars on the side.”   Whether we want to admit it or not, our government education (I refuse to use the “pubic education” euphamism) system is fast becoming a pension and health care system that educates a few kids (in Milwaukee about 45% of the kids they teach) on the side.