Impact of substitute amendments to AB 58 and SB 28

Under current law, Madison Schools will have to cut between $6-8 million dollars from the "current services" budget for the 2005-06 school year. We estimate the cut will eliminate over 130 positions. This is on top of the over 420 positions that have already been eliminated since the inception of revenue limits in the 1993-94 school year, with nearly $38 million in cuts to programs and services during the same period.

The revenue limit law allows Madison to increase its budget by about 2.6% annually, but the QEO law, as it relates to salary/benefits, ensures that about 85% of the district's budget will increase by at least 3.8% annually. Current law fails to recognize school mandates and heating fuel and transportation costs that increase annually beyond the rate of inflation. Further cuts, as required by the substitute amendment to AB58/SB28, only exacerbates the problem.

A simple illustration: The district's total English as a Second Language budget for 04-05 is $12.5 million - $985,000 from the state, and $325,619 from the federal government. The $11.1 million difference - 88.8% of the total ESL budget - must be picked up by the local property tax payer. Providing the program is mandated by state and federal law. Paying for mandates translates to property tax relief.

2005-06 - $947,340 cut equates to...

19 FTE teachers, or;
nearly all of the elementary schools supplies/materials, or;
all teacher development programs for reading, or;
all teacher development programs for math, or;
all district textbook purchases for the 2005-06 school year.

2006-07 - $2.2 million cut equates to...

43 FTE teachers, or;
the district's entire athletic budget, or;
all elementary and middle school librarians, or;
all elementary and high school supplies/materials, or;
the entire summer school program - remediation and enrichment, or;
all assistant principals at all grade levels.

For more information contact, Joe Quick, Legislative Liaison, 663-1902.

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