WEAC Continues to Fight QEO & Revenue Controls

• Through court action, WEAC has been successful in limiting the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission’s interpretation of “economic issue” under the QEO law.
• In a case called Dodgeland v. WERC, WEAC is challenging the WERC’s narrow interpretation of what constitutes a “fringe benefit.” This case is now in the Court of Appeals.
• In a case called WEAC v. WERC (formerly the New Berlin case), WEAC is challenging the “cast forward” method of costing QEO provisions. This case is awaiting a decision in Dane County Circuit Court.
• WEAC is directly challenging the constitutionality of revenue controls as part of its involvement in a major lawsuit challenging the current system of school finance in Wisconsin. This case is now before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
• WEAC has fought in every legislative session to modify the QEO and revenue controls and has made some significant progress. As a result of these efforts, any money not used up by fringe benefit costs under the QEO must now be applied to salaries. Also, significantly, lane movement is no longer included in the QEO calculations. And revenue controls have been modified to ease the impact on districts with declining enrollments and to make it easier to have summer school. Other exemptions are being debated, including one for school breakfast and lunch programs.

Posted April 11, 2000