Testimony of Steve Whitmoyer
Gateway Technical College
United Technical College Council (UTCC) Board
Hello. My name is Steve Whitmoyer. By trade, I am a
professional Civil Engineer. I worked at private consulting firms in
Ohio and Wisconsin prior to taking over the Civil Engineering Tech program
at Gateway Technical College in 2000
I was born in Iowa, grew up in Ohio, obtained my undergrad
at Purdue, and my masters at North Carolina State. I have seen a wide variety
of approaches to education and training, but I had never seen a system as
unique and as amazing as our Wisconsin Tech College System.
During my career as an Educator, engineer and project
manager, I learned how valuable it is to have skilled team members. Just
like the Packers, it is vital that we have quality high-level institutions
that educate our leaders, our quarterbacks, to lead our industry and our
economy into the future. However, just as important as the quarterback,
is the need to have a good offensive line, good tight ends, good running
backs, and good wide receivers to help make that quarterback successful.
That is what our Wisconsin Tech College System does for our Wisconsin
industries and economy, and does it very well.
Tens of thousands of students graduate from our Wisconsin
Tech College System each year to become the backbone of our local workforces.
WTCS students become our communities' nurses, firefighters, childcare providers,
police officers, paramedics, road builders, automotive techs, IT network
specialists, tax preparers, new business entrepreneurs, and a cadre of
other highly skilled, well trained workers which grow our economy.
The WTCS serves an incredibly broad array of Wisconsin
residents:
- Students who struggled in high school -- our
Wisconsin Tech College System trains them to become
productive, tax-paying members of our economy.
- Students who have limited English proficiency --
our Wisconsin Tech College System trains them to
become productive, tax-paying members of our economy.
- Factory workers that have fallen victim to a
plant closing -- our Wisconsin Tech College System
retrains them to once again become productive, tax-paying
members of our economy.
- Single mothers and single fathers who do not
have the resources nor time for a 4-year degree --
our Wisconsin Tech College System trains them to become
productive, tax-paying members of our economy, and to
have a job which provides enough income to raise their
family.
- Individuals who have their 4-year degrees and above,
including PhD's, our Wisconsin Tech College system retrains
them in how to use the latest technologies -- maintaining
the competitive edge for our Wisconsin industries and
maintaining the strength of our economy.
- And the list goes on and on..
And the most amazing aspect is that our tech college system is
set up to do all this, and more, to help fuel the economy -- and its all done at
the local level. Each tech college is constantly reconfiguring itself to address
the changing needs of that local area's ever changing economy. It is truly one
of the most amazing educational and training systems that I have ever seen.
The tax freeze chokes off resources to the technical colleges.
In doing so, the freeze limits the ability of the technical colleges to respond
to the rapidly evolving demands of Wisconsin's businesses and meet the training
needs of Wisconsin residents.
Years ago, the tech college system was set up with 1/3 of its
funding coming from the state and another 1/3 from local property taxes -- and there
was a cap placed on the mill rates that a tech college could assess. Over the years,
the state has really cut back its portion. However, very few of the tech colleges
have reached their cap limit because they have been very frugal and diligent in
their spending.
Now we can sit here and trade bullet points and 15 second sound
bites about the tax freeze all day long -- items that many well educated men and
women have presented over and over again to this committee.
However, the best truthful sound bite that I can offer this
committee is this. A recent independent analysis showed that every dollar of state
and local tax money invested in our Wisconsin Tech College System -- the system
returns $2.05.
We all want what is best for our economy. The WTCS is one of
the economic engines that helps run our economy. The system has a great rate of
return for Wisconsin taxpayers - it is a sound investment. Is it really smart
to cut back or freeze this key component of our economy? Will it help our
Wisconsin businesses evolve and grow? We do not think so.
I urge you to oppose all forms of the tax freeze. Your
opposition will help maintain the health of Wisconsin's technical college system
- a system plays an essential role in building and growing our economy."
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Posted February 3, 2005