The level is much lower than pledged, but final budget shows more than $500 million increase

In the midst of the 2018 campaign, Gov. Tony Evers — then state schools superintendent — submitted a budget seeking a $1.4 billion increase in K-12 education in Wisconsin. 

Evers pledged he would increase spending by that amount and achieve it within his first two-year budget.

His 2019-21 budget included the $1.4 billion, an increase of 10%. But the Republican-controlled state Legislature balked at that level, putting only an additional $505 million into K-12 education. 

Using his extensive veto powers, Evers was able to craft his way to adding an additional $65 million for schools. That brought the total increase to $570 million over two years. 

But that's still well short of the promised $1.4 billion.

We rate this promise Compromise.