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Verona Area School District board pushes for tax-bill transparency on voucher costs
Summary
Board members discussed how state-funded private-school vouchers reduce district state aid and shift roughly $890,000–$940,000 in costs to Verona Area School District property taxpayers; members urged municipal cooperation to show voucher costs on tax bills after a state bill failed.
Members of the Verona Area School District board on Monday pressed for clearer tax-bill disclosure that would show how much local property taxes are indirectly funding students who attend private voucher schools.
"The ultimate payer of voucher student tuition is paid by local property tax bills of the taxpayers in the district where that student came from," said board member Joe, who led the presentation explaining the funding flow. Joe told the board the district has lost roughly $890,000–$940,000 in state aid this year because resident students attend voucher schools, which he said translates to about $0.11 of the district's $10.66 mill rate.
Board Chair Juan Carlos said the current arrangement can feel like "double" or "triple" taxation: residents pay local taxes, the state reduces aid for voucher students, and districts may then ask taxpayers for additional revenue to make up the shortfall. "That alone ought to feel really wrong," Juan Carlos said, arguing the mechanism is opaque and hard for voters to track.
Board members emphasized accountability concerns. "There is no accountability to that — you don't know how that's spent," said another board member, urging clearer reporting so taxpayers can see where public dollars are going. A separate member raised civil‑rights concerns, saying private schools that receive public funds are not always subject to the same non‑discrimination requirements as public schools and cited an example from another city where school staff were fired for being LGBTQ; the member said that difference mattered for community standards.
The board also discussed recent state legislative activity. Members said a bill that would have required disclosure of voucher-related mill rates on tax bills was proposed during the legislative session but "went nowhere." In response, the group said it will pursue voluntary, local approaches — working with the multiple municipalities the district serves so each jurisdiction could include a voucher line item or explanatory language on tax notices.
Board members suggested broader public outreach, including print and community distribution of explanatory materials, to help taxpayers understand the funding flow and the district's position. No formal motion or vote was taken during the discussion; the board concluded by endorsing further work with municipalities and public education about the issue.
The board did not set a date for any follow-up action; members said they will continue discussions with municipal partners and consider outreach to local publications and community venues to raise awareness.
