Dan O’Donnell explains why Governor Evers’ infamous ‘400-year veto’ is one of the most insidious and damaging political stunts in state history.
In the long history of political chicanery, few stunts rival Governor Tony Evers’ infamous “400-year veto.” What started as a modest two-year bump in school funding has morphed into a perpetual tax hike machine, courtesy of Evers’ creative editing with the veto pen.
Back in 2023, the legislature approved a $325 per-pupil revenue limit increase for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years. Evers, ever the champion of unchecked spending, struck out digits and punctuation to extend it through 2425—yes, four centuries from now.
The result? Skyrocketing property taxes that have Wisconsin families reeling this year, with bills hitting their highest levels since 2018.
Let’s be clear: This isn’t some benign policy tweak. Evers’ veto hands school districts the green light to jack up revenue limits by $325 per student every single year, indefinitely. Without corresponding state aid increases—thanks to Evers’ own budget priorities and legislative gridlock—that burden falls squarely on local property taxes. Districts, facing inflation and rising costs, have eagerly opted in, leading to massive referendums and automatic hikes. By 2033, we’re looking at an extra $3,575 per student; by 2043, a staggering $5 billion annually in added spending.
Who’s footing the bill? You, the hardworking taxpayer, already squeezed by Evers’ other fiscal follies.Republicans have rightly called this out as an abuse of power, a backdoor tax increase masquerading as education reform. Evers defends it by claiming it’s not “automatic”—schools have to choose to raise taxes, he says, and the state should just pony up more aid.
Nice try, Governor. But when you veto away legislative intent and lock in endless escalators without accountability, you’re forcing districts’ hands. The proof is in the pudding: Property taxes surged this winter, with many households seeing double-digit jumps. In a state where families are still recovering from pandemic-era economic hits, this is nothing short of insulting.
Evers, a former educator, paints himself as a hero for schools. But this veto doesn’t guarantee better outcomes—just bigger budgets. Wisconsin’s public education system already spends lavishly, yet student performance lags. Pouring more money into the same broken model without reforms is like throwing cash into a bonfire. Meanwhile, Evers rejected over $7 billion in additional school funding requests? That’s not leadership; that’s political theater.
Thankfully, Republicans aren’t taking this lying down. They’ve advanced a constitutional amendment to curb the governor’s veto powers, preventing future executives from using them to hike taxes or fees. Voters will decide in November, and if history is any guide, Wisconsinites weary of Evers’ overreach will say yes. They’ve also passed bills to repeal the veto outright, though Evers is poised to block them—proving once again his addiction to executive fiat.
This 400-year veto isn’t just undemocratic; it’s a betrayal of fiscal responsibility. Wisconsin deserves better than endless tax hikes disguised as progress. It’s time to clip Evers’ wings and restore balance. Until then, brace for more pain at the mailbox—courtesy of a governor who thinks four centuries ahead for spending but not a dime for taxpayers.
