As Wisconsin's deficit grows, how will the state keep pace with its two-thirds funding committment?

In State deficit forecast rises to $5.4 billion by mid 2011, Steven Walters discusses Governor Doyle's plans to shore up the budget and protect school funding:

Doyle said he wants to avoid raising the sales tax or income taxes. He said his top priorities would be protecting aid for public schools - now about $5.1 billion a year - and for local governments. State aid to local governments helps control property taxes, he said.

"I am going to do everything I possibly can to protect schools," Doyle said. "That doesn't mean they'll get everything they want."

But keeping state government's promise to continue paying about 66% of public school costs will cost an additional $480 million in the next two years, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau.