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Sheboygan council approves tax-bill insert disclosing private-school voucher costs after public comment
Summary
After public comments and council debate, the Sheboygan Common Council approved a resolution to add an informational insert to the tax-bill package showing how much of the school district levy is for private-school vouchers; the measure passed 7–3.
The Sheboygan Common Council voted 7–3 to adopt Resolution No. 60-4-26-27 to include an informational insert with property tax mailings that states the amount of the Sheboygan Area School District levy attributable to private-school vouchers.
Public commenters and several council members framed the measure as an information-only transparency step. Judy Poole, a Sheboygan resident, urged fuller context for the figures, saying, “I believe in truth and transparency when it comes to our tax dollars.” Several other residents, including Elizabeth Ekblad and Mackenzie Petrie Rust, spoke either opposing placement of the note in tax mailings or supporting the insert as a way to make levy details clearer to homeowners. Mary Lynn Donahue, a Sheboygan Area School District board member, told the council the 2025 amount for vouchers was $7,285,000 and that the resolution does not change taxes or take a position for or against vouchers.
During council debate, Alders emphasized different rationales: Alder Decker said, “We are not here tonight to debate the pros and cons of vouchers,” framing the item as strictly informational, while Alder Mitchell said he would vote against inclusion in tax mailings because it could be perceived as political. Alder Perella moved to approve the resolution. The motion carried on a roll-call vote, 7 ayes and 3 noes. The council and staff said the county will print the insert as a separate flyer rather than on the county-printed tax bill itself.
