Court Opinion

ID: 9737719
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:33:01.949253+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:00.930938
License: Public Domain

JON P. WILCOX, J.
¶ 90. (concurring). I agree that the Petitioners' constitutional challenge presents a justiciable issue for this court. I also agree that the current system of school financing is constitutional and that there is no reason to remand the case for further proceedings.
¶ 91. However, I do not agree with the test that the majority opinion sets forth for examining whether the state school financing system violates art. X, § 3 of the Wisconsin Constitution. Therefore, I do not join ¶¶ 3, 48-53, or 87 of the majority opinion.
¶ 92. Article X, § 3 does not mandate absolute uniformity of equal opportunity for education in all school districts in this state. Majority op. at ¶ 46 (citing Kukor v. Grover, 148 Wis. 2d 469, 487, 436 N.W.2d 568 (1989)(Ceci, J., plurality) and id. at 514 (Steinmetz, J., concurring)). Legislative determinations in the area of school finance schemes are entitled to great deference by this court. Majority op. at ¶ 46 (citing Kukor, 148 Wis. 2d at 502-03 (Ceci, J., plurality) and id. at 512 (Steinmetz, J., concurring)).
¶ 93. Like the majority of this court, I conclude that the Petitioners have not demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt that the present system of school financing is not "as nearly uniform as practicable" as guaranteed by art. X, § 3 of the Wisconsin Constitution. I respectfully concur.