Community Service Taxes Skyrocketing

This is why taxpayers can’t exempt things from levy limits.  The tax spenders are very creative. 

Community service taxes, which help pay for such recreation programs, have more than doubled statewide since 2001 as cash-strapped school districts shift costs from school budgets to these funds.

And the Madison School District leads the pack.

The district levied $9.9 million this school year for community service and recreation programs, triple what was levied in 2001-02. It also tops the levy in Milwaukee, which has roughly triple Madison’s population.

In 2001-02, the state Legislature exempted from school revenue limits community service levies, or those funds that pay for programs such as swimming lessons or community social workers. And school districts moved to identify as many community service- related costs as possible.

Remember this happened pre-Doyle.