against the tax & spenders!
Newspaper editorial pages are disappearing faster than fishing boats in the Caribbean. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel quit opinionating after being absorbed into the maw of the sprawling 280-newspaper Gannett chain. Here in Madison, the Wisconsin State Journal mostly runs shrink-wrapped opinions Lee Enterprises distributes to its 77 outlets.
So it felt like a slap of Mennen Skin Bracer this Sunday to see our favorite local daily emerge from the crypt with both guns — if not exactly blazing, at least going pew pew pew.
Wisconsin State Journal editors — themselves undoubtedly victims — observed that Madison homeowners have gone into anaphylactic shock over property tax bills up a staggering 11.2% — or $872 — on average. “At some point, local taxpayers need to say no” to more spending the newspaper thundered suggested.
To much of which spending our favorite local daily had unfortunately encouraged a “Yes” vote — namely, the $22 million city spending referendum and the $507 million school building ask. It did oppose busting state levy limits by an additional $100 million in school operating revenue into infinity (and beyond).
Democrats … were right to criticize President Donald Trump for dismissing concern about affordability. Yet here in the Democratic stronghold of Madison, local officials and most voters are essentially doing the same. They’re dismissing affordability concerns by constantly approving higher spending. — Wisconsin State Journal
Today’s civics lesson: these referenda would never get on the ballot if our elected officials were minding the store.
Only two alders voted against placing the $22 million city spending referenda on the ballot: Isadore Knox and Barbara Harrington-McKinney. The two were most definitely NOT endorsed by the Dane County Democratic Party.
In contrast, all 14 of the alders endorsed by The Party did support the referendum. The party that only after Joe Biden’s defeat discovered “affordability” endorsed all three school board members who won election last April. Ali Muldrow, Nichelle Nichols, and Martha Siravo voted to put the $607 million in school spending referenda on the ballot.
Passing the buck$
No Republicans serve in local elective office, so local buck passers blame the Republican state legislature, alleging partisan discrimination. But the state shared revenue formula has always rewarded economically depressed communities. Madison ain’t. The WI Institute for Law & Liberty compares costs (and outcomes) by school district for the 2024-25 school year.
Madison received $3,696 in state aid per student.— 16.5% of the district’s $22,297 revenue per student. Madison voted 84% Democrat for Senate in 2024. Per capita income in Madison is $48,557. (Source)
The wealthy, heavily Republican Mequon-Thiensville school district in Ozaukee County received only $1,800 in state aid per student — 10% of the district’s $17,097 per student in 2024. Mequon voted 51% Republican for Senate in 2024; Thiensville 60% Republican. Per capita income in Mequon is $79,269; Thiensville $42,019.
Menomonee Indian Reservation is our poorest school district; the state paid $9,927 per student in 2024-25; with federal help, local taxes comprised only 16% of the $29,380 spent per student.
State aid to Madison schools did decline from a record $151.3 million in 2024-25 by $14.3 million in 2025-26, but the school board more than offset that by increasing the property tax levy by $80.5 million.
Blaska’s Bottom Line: Madison voters will elect 10 alders and two of the seven school board members next April. At some point, local taxpayers need to say no to candidates endorsed by the Democratic Party of Dane County or STFU.
11 responses to “At some point, just vote no”
Ya think? Give us an alternative on the ballot to all of the PD clones! Is Nancy Mistele interested?
We need fiscally responsible candidates to step up! But if elected they will be in a small minority after elected and they will have no power. It is hopeless.
nO WORRIES. y’ALL HAVE THOSE $2000 TARRIFF CHECK REBATES COMING SOON.
How about responding to the irresponsible fiscal management of Democrats who control Madison and Dane County instead of your congenital non-sequiturs?
For a city of smart well educated people, the same spend crazy politicians keep on getting elected. If people don’t like ridiculous taxes stop voting for the policies & politicians that increase the taxes without getting results to justify the increases. The MMSD is a good example, students are not expected to learn the basics so they can become successful adults. The poor reading scores are are an embarrassment. A lot of people with common sense don’t run for public office because they know their efforts would be thwarted by the usual liberals. So frustrating!
At some point, just LEAVE.
Madison is still a nice place to visit right?
They call this Affordability!
Abortion is Choice
The Affordable Care Act will bend the cost curve downward
The Inflation Reduction Act increased spending which increased inflation
Democrat Affordability raises taxes and the cost of energy
On the other hand, gas is $2.39 per gallon in South Carolina.
OT: Informative post by Nino Amato on Next Door describing the arrests for drunk, disorderly, and resisting arrest of Brandi Grayson and MMSD vice-president Mia Pearson on Friday night. Mr. Amato rightly expresses disappointment and concern for Brandi Grayson’s role as Urban Triage CEO in managing millions of $ in taxpayer money.
Mad City “progressive” loons have apparently compromised again what little public trust they have left.
Wh
Ahem… WMTV 15 would rightly characterize this as Grayson “experiencing being drunk, disorderly and resisting”.
Show some compassion!
OE: Aren’t you cute. I have “compassion” for Madison taxpayers who are throwing money down the black holes known as MMSD and Urban Triage. Scary words come to mind, such as “audit” and “investigation”.