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2009-11 State Budget News

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Governor signs 2009-11 state budget

6/29/2009 4:07:52 PM

Governor Jim Doyle today signed the 2009-11 budget bill, saying, “Throughout this process, I have believed that the choices we make will reveal clearly who we are and what we value.”

Under the budget, K-12 public schools will experience sharp declines in funding, on top of the severe cuts they have already made over 16 years as a result of state-imposed revenue controls that have not kept pace with costs. The budget does include measures to ensure fairness for educators, including repeal of the qualified economic offer (QEO) and other collective bargaining reforms.

Cuts to education, originally projected to be as much as 5 to 6 percent, were held to about 2.5 percent in the budget signed by the governor today. The fact that the cuts were held under original projections is a credit to legislators who fought to preserve education as a Wisconsin priority. For instance, despite deep spending cuts in many programs, this budget increases support for schools with high proportions of children in poverty and delivers more resources to rural schools.

Responding to the signing, WEAC President Mary Bell said the budget reflects Wisconsin’s difficult economic situation.

“While educators can appreciate legislative efforts to minimize the cuts to public education in the 2009-11 state budget in the midst of declining state revenues and challenging economic conditions, we must acknowledge that the reductions to school aids and the per pupil adjustment to revenue caps will be very painful for school districts, educators, students and communities. It is inevitable that school programs, positions, educator pay and benefits will be detrimentally affected.“

Doyle, who at the budget signing recognized a solid education system as the backbone of economic development, approved a budget provision to restore the per pupil adjustment to $275 per pupil in 2011, compared to the $200 per pupil increase included in each year of the biennium. The 2009-11 budget also creates a new revenue limit increase beginning in the 2009-10 school year for school district spending on energy efficiency measures, and additional revenue limit increases for school safety, transportation and nursing costs beginning in the 2011-12 school year.

"While the budget calls for across-the-board cuts in state funding, the reality is that the impact of these cuts will vary from district to district and school to school,” Bell said. “And while some cuts will be offset by increased one-time federal aid, it’s important to recognize that the decisions made today will have a long-term impact on student learning.”

The budget includes the repeal of the Qualified Economic Offer, effective July 1, 2009, which will restore fairness to Wisconsin’s collective bargaining law for teachers. This will provide new opportunities for cooperation between teachers and administrators.

“The restoration of a fair bargaining law for teachers is long overdue,” Bell said.

Education support professionals throughout the state are also treated with fairness under the budget, which includes retirement equity for school support staff, a measure that shows respect for the years of service of these vital school employees.

"I am also pleased to see the introduction of some accountability measures for the Milwaukee private school voucher program,” Bell said. “This will certainly make a difference in our state’s goal of ensuring quality education to all students.”

"Of course, there are other areas involved in education beyond K-12 that are impacted by the budget,” Bell said. “While the budget currently increases general aid for technical colleges and financial aid for students there, state employees are bracing for furloughs and layoffs, and state agencies will see severe cuts.”

"Wisconsin values education – even in tough times, and our state’s educators are ready to work together to advance school funding reform that will uphold our tradition of quality schools,” Bell continued. “I urge everyone – parents, school boards, business leaders and others – to join us in this worthy effort.”