Coalition Urges Continuation of State Commitment to School Construction

A coalition of business, labor, education, and professional organizations is warning that the state is on the verge of breaking its commitment to fund two-thirds of public school construction costs.

The Coalition for Modern Schools was created because of concerns about two issues now under consideration that would limit school districts’ ability to construct and operate needed facilities. One proposal would reduce the state’s share of local school debt service levies; the other would limit the scheduling of school building referendums.

“The state is starting down a very dangerous road,” Waunakee School Superintendent Gene Hamele said at a State Capitol news conference Monday (June 14, 1999). “The commitment to fund two-thirds of school costs is a cornerstone of property tax relief. If the Legislature does not keep its commitment to support public school construction costs that have been approved by referendum, the state’s commitment to property tax relief is also broken.”

The group is warning the two proposals would erode the quality of education in Wisconsin public schools.

“If the state does not fund its share of referendum-approved building projects, local property taxes will rise $13.3 million,” International Union of Operating Engineers spokesman Joe Wineke said. “Residents will be less willing to approve new buildings, meaning some students will continue to be educated in substandard and sometimes inadequate and aging buildings.”

The coalition supports the Joint Finance Committee vote restoring current law for scheduling referendums, instead of requiring districts to schedule referendums only during regularly scheduled spring and fall elections.

Keith Kolb of Robert W. Baird & Company said a plan to limit scheduling of borrowing referendums would reduce school district flexibility to manage projects, and could harm local economies.

“Holding referendums twice a year would tie the hands of contractors, architects, construction workers and schools,” Kolb said. “Spring and fall referendums would mean districts throughout the state would plan and build at about the same time, creating gridlock in the construction industry, which would also affect local economies. We urge the Legislature to uphold the Joint Finance vote on scheduling referendums.”

Coalition members include AIA Wisconsin, the Laborers’ International Union of North America, the Wisconsin Federation of Teachers, the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, WEAC, the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the International Union of Operating Engineers, the School Administrators Alliance, GKS&T Wisconsin, Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc., and the Associated General Contractors of America - Wisconsin.

Posted June 14, 1999