Finance Committee backs adding informational voucher line to Green Bay tax bill; sends recommendation to council

The City of Green Bay Finance Committee on April 8 voted to recommend that the city add a single informational sentence to the Green Bay tax bill identifying the local levy amount for private school vouchers. Committee members and staff said the proposed insertion is the only location on the printed bill allowed by Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) rules; the DOR and the Green Bay Area Public School District reviewed and accepted the proposed wording.

Director Albrecht, who led the staff briefing, told the committee staff had worked with the Green Bay Area Public School District (GBAPS) and the DOR to determine what is legally permitted on the tax bill and that the informational sentence must appear in the bill’s informational section; the DOR prohibits changes to the calculation section of the bill. Staff said there is no additional printing cost for the insertion.

Why it matters

Proponents called the change a transparency measure that would let taxpayers see, on the face of their tax bill, the amount the school district locally levied for private school vouchers. Opponents and some committee members cautioned about placement, consistency with the bill’s format and potential unintended messaging toward families using vouchers.

What staff and stakeholders said

Alder Crawford introduced the request to explore adding a separate line on the printed tax bill to distinguish voucher dollars over which the city has no financial oversight; staff brought a proposed one‑sentence addition after coordinating with GBAPS and the DOR.

Laura McCoy, identified in the meeting as the president of the Green Bay School Board, provided the…