MTI LEGISLATIVE ALERT The Governor's Budget and Revenue Limits

School districts across Wisconsin have been ham-strung by revenue controls since the State imposed them in 1993. The caps which stripped local school boards of their authority to budget according to the democratic process, have essentially froze spending by local school districts at 1992 levels. In 1995, the Legislature voted to fund 2/3 of the costs of K-12 education. While the state pays an average of 2/3 of the total cost, in Madison, due to higher than average property values, the state actually pays only one-fourth of the district's total budget of $266 million. The remainder is borne by local property tax payers.

The state-imposed revenue controls, which limit the amount of money school districts are entitled to receive in state aids and property taxes, are keeping many school districts from providing the best possible educational opportunities. Districts are being forced to delay spending on new textbooks and "current" teaching materials, as well as on necessities such as building maintenance and the purchase of computers and other technology. They have also cut or eliminated important and essential programs and services for children. Madison has experienced severe cuts in elementary specials (art, music, physical education and REACH), the pending elimination of the 4-year old program, the potential outsourcing of library materials, as well as cuts in staff development programs.

Governor McCallum's Budget:
No Relief From Revenue Caps

1. Freezes per-pupil spending cap at $220.29, eliminating the inflationary adjustment provided in previous years.

2. Provides no relief to declining enrollment districts.

3. Reduces summer school programs by including only 25% of summer school pupil enrollment when calculating revenue controls by the 2003-04 school year. Current law allows for a 40% pupil count allowance.

A statewide survey of school superintendents
and teachers found the following:

1. Ninety-five percent of teachers are "very" or "somewhat" concerned about long-term educational quality in their district, and 80 percent of teachers and 62 percent of superintendents say that revenue controls have had a negative effect on their district's quality of education.

2. Moreover, a large majority of teachers (88%) and superintendents (67%) believe that educational quality in their district will decline between now and 2005 without changes in the law.

3. Sixty-two percent of superintendents report cutting money for consumable supplies, and teachers report reduced funds for textbooks, curricular materials, consumables, videos, and library/media center materials.

Effect on Madison:
Further Cuts in Education Budget

1. The Governor's Budget would limit the total increase in the MMSD budget to approximately 2.4%. Many budgetary factors outside the District's control such as rising utility/fuel costs, declining enrollment, legal expenses, mandated special education, and English as a Second Language programs/services which are increasing at a much greater rate.

2. Bilingual education costs have increased $1.8M since the start of revenue limits while state aid for this mandated program has increased a mere $66,000. This means $1,734,000 is taken from other programs.

3. The proposed changes in counting summer school enrollment towards the revenue controls will likely reduce summer school offerings or eliminate summer programs.

Contact the Governor, the Joint Finance Committee and Legislators and tell them how the revenue controls are harming education and demand their removal.

Governor Scott McCallum
115 East, State Capitol
Madison, Wisconsin 53702
Phone: (608) 266-1212 Fax: (608) 267-8983
E-mail: wisgov@mail.state.wi.us

Sen. Brian Burke (Co-Chair) 316 South, State Capitol PO Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882 Phone: (608) 266-8535 E-mail: Sen.Burke@legis.state.wi.us (D-Milwaukee) Rep. John Gard (Co-chair) 315 North, State Capitol PO Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708 Phone: (608) 266-2343 E-mail: Rep.Gard@legis.state.wi.us (R-Peshtigo) Sen. Russell Decker 323 South, State Capitol PO Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882 Phone: (608) 266-2502 E-mail: Sen.Decker@legis.state.wi.us (D-Schofield) Rep. David Ward 304 North, State Capitol PO Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708 Phone: (608) 266-3790 E-mail: Rep.Ward@legis.state.wi.us (R-Fort Atkinson) Sen. Robert Wirch 310 South, State Capitol PO Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882 Phone: (608) 267-8979 E-mail: Sen.Wirch@legis.state.wi.us (D-Kenosha) Rep. Michael Huebsch 20 North, State Capitol PO Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708 Phone: (608) 266-0631 E-mail: Rep.Huebsch@legis.state.wi.us (R-West Salem)

Sen. Kevin Shibilski 10 South, State Capitol PO Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882 Phone: (608) 266-3123 E-mail: Sen.Shibilski@legis.state.wi.us (D-Stevens Point) Rep. Dean Kaufert 22 West, State Capitol PO Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708 Phone: (608) 266-5719 E-mail: Rep.Kaufert@legis.state.wi.us (R-Neenah) Sen. Gwendolynne Moore 409 South, State Capitol PO Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882 Phone: (608) 266-5810 E-mail: Sen.Moore@legis.state.wi.us (D-Milwaukee) Rep. Sheryl Albers 127 West, State Capitol PO Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708 Phone: (608) 266-8531 E-mail: Rep.Albers@legis.state.wi.us (R-Loganville) Sen. Kimberly Plache 415 South, State Capitol PO Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882 Phone: (608) 266-1832 E-mail: Sen.Plache@legis.state.wi.us (D-Racine) Rep. Marc Duff 310 North, State Capitol PO Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708 Phone: (608) 266-1190 E-mail: Rep.Duff@legis.state.wi.us (R-New Berlin)

Sen. Alberta Darling 22 South, State Capitol PO Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882 Phone: (608) 266-5830 E-mail: Sen.Darling@legis.state.wi.us (R-River Hills) Rep. Greg Huber 218 North, State Capitol PO Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708 Phone: (608) 266-0654 E-mail: Rep.Huber@legis.state.wi.us (D-Wausau) Sen. Robert Welch Room 404, Hamilton Building PO Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882 Phone: (608) 266-0751 E-mail: Sen.Welch@legis.state.wi.us (R-Red Granite) Rep. Antonio Riley 209 North, State Capitol PO Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708 Phone: (608) 266-0645 E-mail: Rep.Riley@legis.state.wi.us (D-Milwaukee)

MTI 4/30/01