An Update on the MPCP Tax Levy

[jalinder]

Tax levy related to the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program to increase by 22.6%.

 

According to information recently released by the Department of Public Instruction, the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program enrollment has increased from 20,300 in the 2010-11 schoolyear, to 22,400 in the 2011-12 school year. At 22,400 students, MPCP enrollment trails only that of the Milwaukee, Madison and Kenosha school districts and has passed Racine and Green Bay, as having the fourth highest student enrollment in the state.

 

2010-2011 School Year

 

In 2010-11, 20,300 students were enrolled in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) and the levy associated with funding 38.4% of the program, the voucher tax, was $50.2 million.

 

In addition, state law dictates that an offset related to the High Poverty Aid received by MPS be attributed to the MPCP. In 2010-11 that offset totaled $9.7 million and set the final levy amount attributable to the MPCP at $40.5 million.

 

2011-2012 School Year

 

According to figures released by the Department of Public Instruction, in 2011-12, enrollment in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program has increased to 22,400 students and the voucher tax has grown to $55.4 million.

 

In 2011-12, the offset related to High Poverty Aid has dropped to $5.8 million. After taking into account the High Poverty Aid offset, the final levy attributable to the MPCP will be $49.6 million – an increase of $9.1 million over the previous year.

 

As a result, for City of Milwaukee property tax payers, the tax levy related to the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program will be increasing by 22.6%.