by Chris Kulow | Feb 15, 2021 | Legislative Update Blog, State Budget
Governor Evers is set to deliver his state budget address tomorrow (2/16) at 7:00pm. The details of his 2021-2023 state budget proposal will be released shortly before his speech.
The WASB will share K-12 details and highlights here as they become available.
The speech will be broadcast on Gov. Evers’ Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GovernorTonyEvers
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RGfrYZt2ps&feature=youtu.be
by Dan Rossmiller | Feb 11, 2021 | Federal Budget, Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
In what may well be an harbinger of a potentially contentious budget struggle over public school funding, the powerful GOP-led Joint Finance Committee (JFC) yesterday voted down, along party lines, a DPI plan to equitably distribute roughly $65 million in federal Coronavirus relief funds to schools and replace it with a plan that directs the funding to districts based on the extent to which they are providing in-person instruction.
Wisconsin state statute gives the JFC authority to review and object to the distribution of federal funds by the DPI if they reflect an increase of 5 percent or more above the federal funds indicated in the Chapter 20 appropriations schedule. No vote of the full Legislature nor approval by the governor is required.
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by Dan Rossmiller | Feb 10, 2021 | Legislative Update Blog, State Budget
Gov. Tony Evers’ proposed 2021-23 budget will include an additional $54 million for a school-based mental and behavioral health initiative, according to a news release issued by the governor’s office this morning.
Editor’s note: The WASB’s 2021 Legislative Agenda supports increasing categorical aid for school-based mental health services. Many smaller districts, in particular, lack the staff and other resources to effectively compete for available grant funding in this area. Other districts have expressed concerns about the sustainability of grant-funded activities when these grants run out. (more…)
by Dan Rossmiller | Feb 8, 2021 | Legislative Update Blog, State Budget, State Issue
In recent days, Gov. Tony Evers has begun selectively releasing details of the 2021-23 state budget he will introduce next Tuesday (Feb. 16). Among the details released this past weekend was the revelation that Evers’ next two-year budget will include a proposal to legalize and tax recreational marijuana.
New revenue generated under the proposal would be earmarked to help rural schools, by boosting sparsity aid payments to small, rural school districts, and to assist underserved communities. (more…)
by Chris Kulow | Feb 5, 2021 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue
Gov. Tony Evers vetoed Assembly Bill 1, the state COVID response bill, in its entirety today (2/5) after the state Senate met in extraordinary session to approve the latest change made by the state Assembly and sent it to his desk. The governor’s office released the following statement:
“After Republican legislators abandoned compromise legislation, Gov. Tony Evers today vetoed Assembly Bill (AB) 1. The governor issued a statement earlier today indicating he would be vetoing the bill following passage in the Senate. Gov. Evers also called on Republicans to send him the compromise version of AB 1 passed by the Senate almost unanimously and with bipartisan support weeks ago, which the governor had previously indicated he would sign.”
The veto message for AB 1 is available here.
