2001-03 Budget Issues

August 14, 2001

Governor Scott McCallum
115 East
State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702

Dear Governor McCallum:

With the Legislature's work on the 2001-03 biennial budget finished, the difficult task of further refining the document is yours. I can appreciate the difficulties of fashioning a budget with declining resources. Due to revenue limits, the Madison school district had to pare nearly $6 million from 2001-02 budget - while adding over $2 million for personnel in state and federally mandated special education and bilingual programs.

There are a few select issues in the biennial budget that I would like to bring to your attention. The modest degree of flexibility provided by the Legislature related to revenue limits should be retained. The change recognizes the difficult plight faced by school districts across the state.

Research clearly indicates that the more educational opportunities available to children will enhance school success. The decision to cut funding for 4-year old kindergarten is the wrong way to go. I urge your veto of the 4-year old kindergarten funding change to maintain current law.

With the state's decision to fund 2/3 of the total cost of K-12 education has come the steady erosion of local control. There are two related issues of concern. There is simply no compelling reason to require schools to start after September 1. Wisconsin residents annually take their vacations and spend their disposable incomes on related goods and services. Requiring schools to start after September 1 will not translate into people spending more or taking more vacation days - both are finite resources. I urge your veto of the school start mandate.

While I support charter schools (Madison has two), it is a bad precedent to establish charter schools that are not authorized by locally elected school board members. This local oversight and support are critical to a school's success and connection to the broader community. I urge your veto of language that authorizes a charter school in Racine without local Board of Education approval.

I ask you to veto the $50,000 for the Wisconsin Book Festival. The funding for this program comes from the alternative education grants allocation. The Department of Public Instruction receives far more applications for alternative education grants than resources available. While the Book Festival may be a fine idea, the resources should come from elsewhere.

I support the Legislative Council studies of the school finance system and special education programs and services. They are long overdue. Suffice to say, there are many inequities in both systems that need examining and modification.

Thank you for your consideration of my requests. Please don't hesitate to contact me at 663-1607 if you have questions, or need more information.

Sincerely,

Art Rainwater
Superintendent of Schools