This Just In ...

May 13, 2011, Milwaukee, WI - 

How important is it to keep middle class families in Milwaukee? That question is at the heart of Governor Scott Walker's proposal that all families be eligible for the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP).

Much of the media coverage has miscast Walker's idea as one that would let the "rich" or "millionaires" use taxpayer money to enroll their children in private schools. This misrepresents Walker's proposal by ignoring the reality of who actually lives in Milwaukee. It turns a blind eye to the steady exodus of middle class families from Milwaukee when their children approach school age. Finally, the coverage fails to explain that many wealthy families probably would be ineligible under Walker's plan.

Looking at U.S. census data provides a context that has been overlooked in the media coverage of this issue. The following table shows the distribution of Milwaukee family households by income level.

 

Family Income	Milwaukee Family Households	% of Total
$0-$50,000	74,256	57%
$50,000-$74,999	25,530	20%
$75,000-$99,999	15,033	12%
$100,000-$149,999	11,015	8%
$150,000-$199,999	2,333	2%
$200,000 or more	1,426	1%
	129,592

 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005-2009 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.

 

Under current law, the income threshold for a household of four to enter the MPCP is about $39,000; to remain in the program the threshold rises to about $50,000. Therefore, roughly 57% of Milwaukee families now are eligible. That leaves 43% - or about 55,000 families - who are not eligible.

 

As the census data show, only three percent of Milwaukee families could reasonably be termed "wealthy" or "rich." In all likelihood, few of these families would benefit from the Walker plan. That's because children now in private school on a tuition-paying basis would not be eligible. In other words, "rich" Milwaukee families - those who are likely to already use private schools - aren't included in the Walker proposal.

 

To guarantee that the "rich" or "wealthy" can't participate, legislators could always amend Walker's plan to exclude families with income over $150,000. Doing so would extend eligibility to about 51,000 middle class families, i.e, those with annual income between $50,000 and $150,000.

Instead, the main alternative to Walker's plan is a proposal that would raise income limits to about $67,000 for a family of four. That alternative would exclude tens of thousands of families. A review of collective bargaining agreements for teachers, police, firefighters, and nurses provides examples of two-earner households that would be excluded under the $67,000 threshold. See the following table.

  

Family Description	Combined Salary
First-year firefighter and first -year teacher with BA	$72,481
First-year police officer and first-year teacher with BA	$78,697
First-year police officer & first-year teacher with BA	$78,697
Firefighter 5 years experience & first-year teacher with MA	$91,733
First-year registered nurse & first-year firefighter	$86,337
Teacher with BA 5 years experience & registered nurse 5 years experience	$95,641
Firefighter 5 years experience & nurse 5 years experience	$107,257
Teacher with BA 5 years experience and teacher with BA 5 years experience	$82,082
First-year police offer and first-year registered nurse	$92,553

 

Sources:

 

1. Agreement Between City of Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Police Association, Local # 21, I.U.P.A., AFL-CIO. January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2009.

2. Agreement Between City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee Professional Firefighters Association Local #215, IAFF, AFL-CIO. January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2009. 

3. Contract Between the Milwaukee Board of School Directors and the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association. July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2009. 

4. Agreement Between County of Milwaukee and Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals Local 5001, AFT, AFL-CIO, 2009-2011.

 Gov. Walker wants as many middle-class families as possible to have a choice in how their children are educated. Once the facts are examined, it's clear that the proposal is aimed directly at the middle-class and an attempt to expand opportunity to as many Wisconsin children as possible.