Wisconsin Democrats are pushing a bill to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of income. But with existing programs already ensuring that low-income students receive free or reduced-price meals, the proposal raises questions about why taxpayers should subsidize meals for families who can afford them. While supporters argue the expansion will reduce stigma and increase participation, critics see it as an unnecessary and costly government expansion that does little to target those in need.
School Meals Are Already Free for Low-Income Families
Under current law, Wisconsin students from low-income families already qualify for free or reduced-price meals through the federally funded National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program. A family of three making less than $33,500 annually qualifies for free meals, while those earning up to $47,700 receive reduced-price meals. Additionally, families earning up to 200% of the federal poverty line (about $51,640 for a family of three) qualify for Wisconsin’s FoodShare program, Medicaid are also eligible for free and reduced lunch. That alone is a significant part of the population.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, more than 60% of all school lunches in public schools and 70% in private schools were already provided at a free or reduced price in the 2019-2020 school year. Wisconsin schools also served 21.7 million free or reduced-price breakfasts. Given that so many students already receive these benefits, the need for an expensive, across-the-board expansion remains unclear.
Who Really Benefits from This Proposal?
The primary beneficiaries of this proposal would not be low-income students, who are already covered under existing programs, but rather middle- and high-income families who can afford to pay for school meals. Advocates of the bill argue that removing the application process will increase participation and reduce stigma for students receiving free meals. However, this raises a fundamental question: Should taxpayer dollars be used to subsidize meals for families who can afford them?
State School Superintendent Jill Underly has suggested that some families may be reluctant to apply for free meals because they don’t want to disclose financial information. However, eliminating income eligibility entirely means extending benefits far beyond those who actually need them.
The Cost of Expansion
The financial burden of this plan is significant. Governor Tony Evers estimated that universal free school meals would cost an additional $120 million in the state’s biannual budget, while Underly projected a much higher cost of $294 million. With Wisconsin already investing in programs specifically designed to assist low-income families, this expansion raises concerns about whether funds could be better spent elsewhere—such as improving education quality, addressing teacher shortages, or enhancing school infrastructure.
Bigger Government, Bigger Costs
This proposal is part of a broader trend of expanding government-funded programs regardless of financial need. During the pandemic, the federal government temporarily provided free meals to all students without any income limits, but efforts to make this a permanent policy failed at the national level. Now, Wisconsin Democrats are attempting to reinstate the policy at the state level, even though pandemic-era emergency measures are no longer in place.
With existing programs already providing meals to those who need them, this initiative appears less about addressing food insecurity and more about broadening government dependency. As lawmakers debate the issue, Wisconsin taxpayers may be left wondering: Should they really be footing the bill for free lunches for families who don’t need them?
