Dodgeville Education Association members Joan Davis (left) and Wendy Sersch attend Governor Jim Doyle's 2005-07 state budget address. The governor mentioned Davis in his speech because she teaches 4-year-old kindergarten. (Photo by Barb Brady)

Governor Jim Doyle on Tuesday (February 8, 2005) unveiled a budget plan that sharply limits property tax increases while adding $850 million to maintain great schools.

The budget also protects technical college education and calls for elimination of the Qualified Economic Offer law, which has severely restricted teacher pay increases and made it harder to attract and retain quality teachers for the last 12 years.

The governor's proposal calls for the state to live up to its commitment to fund two-thirds of the cost of public education, reforms school transportation costs to ease the burden on rural communities and imposes no additional levy limits on the Wisconsin Technical College System.

WEAC President Stan Johnson applauded the governor’s budget. Unlike the Republicans’ tax freeze proposals, the governor’s plan attacks the property tax issue without undermining education and other vital public services, he said.

“Governor Doyle is offering a solid, balanced plan to use taxpayer resources wisely,” Johnson said. “The budget offers realistic solutions, not gimmicks.”

Doyle’s 2005-07 state budget proposal also expands the SAGE class-size reduction program, and helps communities create 4-year-old kindergarten programs – all while offering relief to the state's property taxpayers and reducing Wisconsin's $1.6 billion deficit. Under the governor's plan, the average homeowner will save $366 in the next two years.

The budget implements more than 15 recommendations made by the Task Force on Educational Excellence, including measures to help school districts cope with declining enrollments and teacher mentoring programs.

"This budget is about priorities," Doyle said. "And let me be clear: my priority is education.

"How we get our kids prepared for life will have a more profound effect on the long-term strength of Wisconsin than anything else we do. So, if we want good jobs, it's education. If we want a growing economy, it's education. If we want to reduce the number of inmates, it's education. If we want to find cures to disease, it's education."

In order to achieve two-thirds funding of public schools, the budget will provide an additional $850 million to districts and calls on the federal government to fulfill its promise to fund 40% of special education costs. The governor's budget also proposes an additional $15 million for schools that have students with exceptionally high special education costs. "Wisconsin kids shouldn't be allowed to fail just because Washington is failing them," Doyle said.

The governor's budget protects the state's technical college system, and provides money for a worker training program that will give incentives to Wisconsin employers who utilize the Wisconsin Technical College System to train their workers.

"The governor understands that the best way to continue growing the economy is through a well-trained work force," Johnson said. “He clearly understands that a commitment to the WTCS is an important part of achieving that goal.”

The governor sent a message during his budget address to Republican legislators who have pushed for gimmicks billed as property tax relief.

"If you send me another budget that freezes out our schools, our police and our firefighters, you will force me to take out my veto pen and make you start over. But if you pass a responsible property tax freeze – one that protects taxpayers and their priorities – we can find common ground," he said.

By adding the $850 million in state school funding, school districts can continue to meet the needs of children, the governor said. The budget also responsibly balances the need for limits on counties and municipalities that are tied to the rate of inflation and the growth of property values with economic development incentives. The governor said he wants the state to partner with local governments in securing Wisconsin's economic future.

Johnson applauded the governor for his commitment to public education and an adequate system of funding it.

"This budget provides hope for our future," Johnson said. "Our current system of funding public schools is inadequate because it does not give schools the resources to provide a quality education for every child. Across Wisconsin, school districts have been forced to increase class sizes, decrease course offerings and, in some cases, close their doors due to revenue controls.

“Gov. Doyle’s budget is balanced, fiscally responsible and invests in Wisconsin’s priorities, including a commitment to great schools.”

Johnson said WEAC will be working to address the impact of the budget on state employees represented by WEAC Council 1. "Our Council 1 members at the Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Technical College System, State Historical Society, state prisons and other institutions are doing work that greatly benefits the state and provides an enormous return on the state's investment. We will work to ensure that they are treated fairly as the budget process proceeds."

The budget plan now goes to the Republican-controlled Legislature, which will rewrite it and return it to the governor by the end of June. Once approved by both houses of the Legislature, the budget goes back to the governor, who can veto all or parts of it. The budget covers a period from July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2007.

WEAC news release on Governor Doyle's budget proposal
Highlights of the budget proposal
Resource page on the 2005-07 state budget
Text of the governor's speech

Posted February 9, 2005