Wisconsin Schools' retiree benefit costs explode

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has this rather newsworthy item:

The amount that school districts reported paying for benefits for former employees has exploded in recent years, at the pace of 21.1% annually, a study by a statewide group has found.


Public school spending on post-employment benefits has quintupled since the 1995-'96 school year, to $110.3 million budgeted for the last school year, according to the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance.

That's not a typo there:21.1% annual growth.No wonder they have to have high taxes in Wisconsin.No wonder public school teachers are for high taxes.Can this go on forever at 21% a year? Obviously not.