MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS/DEPT. OF CITY DEVELOPMENT
Economic Impact Study and Expert Testimony, Rescinding Teacher Residency Requirement

For the Milwaukee Public Schools and the Department of City Development, S. B. Friedman & Company evaluated the potential impacts on the City of rescinding the existing teacher residency requirement. Research was conducted regarding teacher residency requirements in other cities and the proportion of teachers living within the boundaries of comparable cities without such requirements. An estimate was then made of the percentage of teachers that might be expected to move out of Milwaukee during a ten-year period. The impacts on retail sales were estimated based on patterns of Milwaukee and suburban shoppers. Net losses were estimated, accounting for the share of suburbanite shopping occurring in the City of Milwaukee . Testimony was provided before an arbitrator in May of 1994. Results: A decision was rendered in November 1994, maintaining the existing residency requirement due to the negative impacts on the City if teachers moved to the suburbs.