News and information for staff members and the Madison community
Vol. II No. 5 - February 27, 2007
Maintaining two-thirds funding and providing enough new resources to keep the reimbursement for special education and English Language Learners at the same level, Gov. Jim Doyle introduced his 2007-09 biennial budget to the Legislature in February.
The governor reiterated his commitment to education, saying, "We have a special and sacred obligation to the children of this state. This budget is not merely a set of numbers and actuarial tables. It is a statement of priorities and values ... our commitment to nourish the abilities, energy and creativity of every Wisconsin child."
An information and advocacy session related to the state budget is scheduled for Wednesday, March 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the McDaniels Auditorium of the Doyle Administration Building. The meeting will provide attendees with information about the budget and advocacy "talking points" to contact legislators and gain support for some of the budget's provisions.
In his budget message related to providing narrow revenue limit relief to school districts for security expenses, Doyle said, "I believe schools should never have to choose between teachers and police officers. We should give communities the flexibility to partner with local law enforcement ... put more police in the schools ... and protect our kids."
Doyle's budget proposal would allow a school district to expend $25,000 per 500 high school students outside the revenue caps to put officers into schools, with a matching amount from the local municipality. School districts could also use the exemption to purchase safety equipment.
The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) is preparing for six hearings in March and April. The JFC hearing closest to Madison will be on Wednesday, March 21 in De Forest, at a yet to be announced location. Historically, the JFC wraps up its work around Memorial Day and the month of June is when both houses make changes to the JFC's version. The budget bill will begin in the Senate this session.
Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) both serve on the JFC. You can find contact information for the other members of the JFC at this web link: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/jfc/jfcmembership.html.
In his budget address, the governor, noting the partisan split in the Assembly (GOP) and Senate (Democrats), urged the Legislature to pass the budget "on time," which would be around July 4th.
The following is a brief description of the budget's major K-12 provisions:
Equalization Aids increase in each of the two years, to maintain the state's commitment to funding two-thirds, on average, of the cost of K-12 education. The aid provides property tax relief, but no resources for classrooms.
Special Education Categorical Aid increase would provide MMSD an additional $1,032,000 from what was forecast for 2007-08 and an additional $1,721,000 from what was forecast for 2008-09.
SAGE funding increase of $250 per student would provide an additional $737,500 of revenue in 2007-08 based on current number of students covered under SAGE contracts in the 15:1 K-3 class size reduction program.
Breakfast Program increase of $.05 per meal would add revenues for Food Services of $31,250. Fully funding the program would add an additional $12,500.
Bilingual Aid maintains the current percentage of state reimbursement at 12%. MMSD had anticipated 11.49% continuing for the next number of years. This would add $52,000 to the revenue that was forecast for each of the next two years.
Library aid (Common School Fund) provides $17 million statewide over the biennium. Allocation is determined by the number of children in a school district.
World languages Elementary school grant would make $500,000 available state-wide in 08-09 to start foreign language programs in elementary schools.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) grant would make $109,000 available state-wide in each of the budget years.
Elimination of QEO repeals authority of a school district to avoid arbitration by offering a 3.8% salary/benefits package increase to its teachers. The proposal would also give all factors equal weight in arbitration, removing the weighted consideration of the impact of revenue limits and/or local economic conditions.
Mentoring of initial educators provides a new exemption from the revenue limits for costs associated with mentoring activities for new educators.
For more information on the Governor's budget, go to his Web site at: http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/budget.asp.
Last Updated: Mon Apr 2 14:44:11 2007
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