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The state's technical college system is primarily funded from three sources: student tuition, local mil levy rates and general aid revenues. Additional revenues are accrued to the system from categorical aids and federal revenues.
The proposed budget fails to address any of the needs of the WTCS as reflected in the Working for Wisconsin budget proposal. The budget provides a 0 percent increase in the general aid revenue for colleges. This is the case despite aid increases over the past four years of 0%, 0%, 1.5%, and 1.5% resulting in a continuous erosion of 30% of the colleges' operational budget in 1990 to less than 23% this year. A zero (0) percent increase for the next two years would bring the state share to 20% of the funding pie and greatly increase pressure on local tax levies to maintain current efforts. A zero (0) increase in general aids would seriously impede the systems ability to meet new challenges in an ever-changing technical climate.
The Wisconsin Education Association Council and the Wisconsin Federation of Teachers are opposed to a zero percent increase in the state general aid formula for the WTCS.
On April 20, the Joint Finance Committee voted to provide a 1% GPR aid increase in 1999 and a 1% GPR aid increase in 2001 for the WTCS. This will add approximately $3.3M to the WTCS base budget appropriation. WEAC supports increasing general aids for the WTCS by 2% each year in this biennium.
If you questions or comments, please contact Jack Coe at the WEAC Government Relations Division at (800)362-8034, ext. 238 or by e-mail coej@weac.org.
Posted March 22, 1999; Updated June 1, 1999.