Wisconsin Recall News: the estimated cost of statewide recalls is $7.7 million

Via Charlie Sykes, Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch breaks down the opportunity cost of holding statewide recalls:

“$7.7 million that may already be allocated for merit raises for teachers, or health care for the poor, or school books for your kids,” she says. Well, okay, but if you’ve got a governor who’s totally screwing up the state, then isn’t $7.7 million a small price to pay?

Oh, did I mention: property taxes are going down:

The total K-12 tax levy decreased by over $47 million this year. Over the last ten years the tax levy, on average, increased by $162 million each year. Over the last five years the tax levy, on average, increased by $181 million each year.

When compared to the status quo of the last five years, Governor Walker’s reforms are keeping an extra $228 million in Wisconsin property taxpayer’s pockets. In total, 269 school districts have a property tax levy lower or the same as last year and 200 school districts not only lowered their levy, but cut their mill rate.

Oh, and did I also mention: public education is in better shape today than it was two years ago, and also seven years ago:

In 2004, the statewide K-12 school tax levy increased 8 percent, yet the WASDA survey that year had results worse than the positive survey responses released for the 2011-12 school year.

So, see, if you’ve got a governor who’s screwing up the state, then $7.7 million is a small price to pay to get rid of him.

If you’ve got a governor who’s making things better, though, that seems an awful lot of money.