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State Budget Alert — Time is of the Essence!

By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | May 18, 2021

This is the third, and likely final, State Budget Alert the SAA will issue to members on the 2021-23 State Budget.  The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) began Executive Sessions (voting) on the State Budget on May 6th.  We anticipate the JFC will take up the K-12 education portion of the budget the week of May 31st.  Therefore, SAA members have about a 10-day window to deliver their final budget communications to their legislators.  The sooner the better, friends!

I would like to thank all those SAA members that have already contacted their legislators regarding the SAA budget priorities.  For those that have yet to communicate with their legislators, I urge you to do so now.  I suggest that each district leadership team coordinate your district message on the budget behind the leadership of the superintendent and business manager.  This budget is vitally important for your school district and the children you serve.   It is critically important for members in all 421 districts to advocate for our shared budget priorities.

In the previous two budget alerts, I have asked you to focus your communications on JFC members.  This time, I’m asking you to focus on your legislators.  Ask them to stand up in their caucus meetings and support your schools and the children you serve.

In your communications, please cover the following:

  1. Discuss your district’s 2020-21 spending on COVID safety, technology, additional staffing, etc., and how you used your initial federal aid for these purposes.  Also, share your plans for using additional one-time federal aid on your district’s student recovery efforts.  Finally, make sure to explain that one-time federal aid is designed for COVID relief and recovery.  Resources to support continuing educational opportunities for your students must come from the state budget process.  Keep in mind that some legislators have openly expressed the opinion that, because of this one-time federal aid, public schools in Wisconsin don’t need ongoing support in the 2021-23 state budget.
  2. Express your strong support for the Governor’s proposal to increase the level of special education aid to reimburse 50 percent of aidable costs by the end of the 2021-23 biennium.  First and foremost, this proposal will help us meet the ongoing needs of our most vulnerable students.  Also, Wisconsin school districts collectively transfer about $1.15 billion annually from district general funds to cover the funding gap between required special education costs and current state funding.  Explain your district’s “general fund to special education fund” annual transfer and how significant increases in special education aid can help meet the needs of all students in your district.
  3. Express your strong support for at least a $200 per pupil general revenue increase in each year of the biennium.  Explain the importance of these increases in per pupil revenues in both fiscal and human terms.  In particular, emphasize the impact on educational opportunities for the kids you serve.
  4. Express your strong support for comprehensive pupil count mitigation including: 1) Allowing districts to use the greater of the 2019-20 or 2020-21 pupil count for revenue limit calculations; 2) Increasing special adjustment aid from 85 percent to 90 percent of prior year general aid in each year of the biennium; and 3) Treating the non-recurring declining enrollment exemption and base revenue hold harmless as recurring adjustments for one year only.  Be sure to explain your district’s projected fiscal impact of the pupil count decline and what that could mean for educational opportunities for the kids you serve.
  5. Express your strong support for the Governor’s $46.5 million proposed expansion of the School Mental Health Categorical Aid program to provide financial support for services provided by school psychologists, nurses, counselors and social workers.
  6. Express your strong support for setting the low revenue ceiling (LRC) at 90 percent of the statewide average maximum revenue limit per student.  The current LRC amount of $10,000 is 87.3 percent of the current state average revenue limit of $11,450. A steadily improving LRC policy is an important part of ensuring equitable resources for all children no matter where they live.
  7. Express your strong support for the High-Cost Transportation proposal being advanced by Senator Felzkowski and Representative Mursau. This proposal would lower the aid threshold in the program from 145% of the statewide average per pupil transportation cost to the statewide average (100%). An additional $41 million annually would fully fund the proposal and positively impact 287 districts.
  8. Tell your district’s story.  Your legislators need to hear it.
  9. Encourage your legislators to stand up for the children you serve, especially in their caucus meetings.
  10. Thank them for listening and for serving the citizens of Wisconsin.

Please forward your communications using the information discussed above to your legislators as soon as possible.  Many SAA members prefer sending letters or emails to their legislators.  Some members have found that their legislators prefer phone conversations. Both methods work great.  All I ask is that you copy your written communications to the SAA so we can post them as examples for your colleagues.

I know many of you have already discussed these issues with your legislators, and I thank you.  I also ask that you contact them again.  For your convenience, I have provided links to the Senate Directory, the Assembly Directory and Who Are My Legislators.

Make no mistake about it.  We have to fight hard for funding increases for public school children.  Many legislators are pushing back against proposed increases to K-12 education.  In particular, some legislators point to the one-time federal aid received by schools and contend that schools don’t need additional financial support in the state budget.

So, let’s stand up and fight for the needs of Wisconsin school children.

Thanks for your attention, and for all your efforts on behalf of the children you serve.

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