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GREEN BAY, Wis.--State Superintendent Tony Evers in Green Bay Thursday saying Governor Walker's next budget will hurt public education.

He met with area superintendents at Mcauliffe Elementary School to discuss what he calls the negative impact of the governor's school voucher proposal.

Evers as well as a few parents are calling the voucher program a taxpayer's scholarship. They joined forces fighting to get the proposal removed from Governor Walker's next two year budget.
 

"I'm concerned there appears to be a move to under fund public schools," parent Brenda Warren said.

Mother of three, Warren says the school voucher program could cost her a lot more.

"As a taxpayer I pay taxes. When property taxes go up it'll cost me more money just like everybody else in the district attendance area," Warren said.


State Superintendent Tony Evers says expanding school vouchers would cost up to $7800 per student for the 25,000 students in voucher schools--and freeze spending for public schools around Wisconsin.

Evers tells us 40% of the state's current budget goes to public schools, but this next budget invests less than 20%.

 "I think we're really behind the eight ball. We're trying to do so many things with our kids and continue to take cuts and cuts and cuts year after year," Evers said. "It's very discouraging."

That's why parents like Warren will keep taking the podium to raise awareness.

"We're hoping the joint finance committee will remove the voucher language in the budget and create a separate bill and be voted on separately," Warren said.

Governor Walker released a statement on the education budget, "As part of transforming education, Governor Walker's budget includes initiatives to expand school choice so parents and students have legitimate alternatives to under performing schools."

Lawmakers will debate the budget over the next few months--then it will be voted on before taking effect in July.