Assembly Republican lawmakers held a press conference in the Assembly Chambers today (May 22) to announce their K-12 education budget. Several lawmakers including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and Joint Finance Committee (JFC) co-chair Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette). Rep. Nygren announced a total increase of about $500 million (compared to $1.4 billion proposed by Gov. Evers).
Also announced as part of the proposal: (more…)
Yesterday, the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) released updated revenue estimates indicating the state will end the 2017-19 budget cycle with an estimated ending balance of $928.7 million, $312.2 million higher than had been forecast earlier.
That is positive news as the additional revenue could be used to increase state aid to schools. However, because most of the additional $753 million in state revenue will be collected in the current fiscal year that ends June 30, achieving such aid increases will require strong advocacy from school leaders, parents and other education proponents.
In a memo to the JFC Co-Chairs, the LFB said: “Based on our review of collections data and the economic forecast, we now believe that general fund taxes will be higher than the previous estimates by $592 million in 2018-19, $68 million in 2019-20, and $93 million in 2020-21. The three-year increase is $753 million, or 1.5%.” (more…)
From Patrick Marley and Molly Beck of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
“Now cemented in place as adversaries, the three most powerful people in Wisconsin’s divided government must decide how much money to spend on vital services like schools and transportation.
“But they’re barely talking.
“Barring a breakthrough in negotiations, the state is on a path to adopt a state budget that won’t include anything new, including the education and health-care proposals that propelled Evers to victory in November.”
Read More: In divided Wisconsin, the governor and legislative leaders are barely talking
WASB Day at the Capitol was held this past Wednesday, March 13. Over 200 school board members, administrators and others made their way to Madison to take our message to the Capitol. Thank you to all who took time out of their schedules to make the trip!
The morning program was kicked off by WASB President Brett Hyde of the Muskego-Norway school board and included a K-12 state budget overview with State Budget Director Brian Pahnke and Education Team Leader Sara Hynek from the WI Dept. of Administration.
See video of the presentation (Wisconsin Eye)
This was followed by a panel of state legislative leaders reacting to various proposals included in the governor’s budget.
We encourage you to join school board members and administrators from around the state on March 13 to take our message to the Capitol! With the legislature beginning its review of Governor Evers’ budget proposal, it is an ideal time to talk with your local legislators and build relationships and support for your schools.
As part of our morning programming at the Monona Terrace, we are once again fortunate to have a bipartisan panel of legislative leaders speak to attendees on how they see K-12 fitting into the state budget debate. Our legislative panelists for 2019 are: (more…)