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Priority Legislative Alert on Assembly Bill 481
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | December 15, 2015
The SAA is issuing a Priority Legislative Alert on Assembly Bill 481.
Assembly Bill 481 (AB 481), relating to school referenda, will have a public hearing before the Assembly Education Committee at 10:00am on Thursday, December 17, 2015 in Room 417 North, State Capitol. You might recall that AB 481 would place restrictions on school district referenda ballot dates and implement a 2-year waiting period following failed referenda. The SAA is strongly opposed to the bill.
We believe the most effective testimony on this damaging legislation will come from those in the field that are living this issue. If you believe you have a compelling story to tell and would like to testify on AB 481 this Thursday, please call John Forester at 608-242-1370 as soon as possible. You can also respond to this legislative alert by writing to key members of the Assembly Education Committee and your own legislators, of course.
We urge SAA members to take action now! Please contact Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt (Chairman of the Assembly Education Committee) and Rep. Sondy Pope in opposition to AB 481. Representative Pope is ranking Democrat on the Assembly Education Committee. We recommend that you frame your communication drawing from the talking points below and add any personal reflections that complement this information. In addition to contacting Rep. Thiesfeldt and Rep. Pope, it is extremely important that you copy your own Assembly Representative and State Senator on this communication.
Talking points:
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This bill is anti-local control.
- With revenue limits frozen for this budget cycle for the first time, referenda are the only way many districts can access resources. This proposal will significantly impact declining enrollment districts which are often small rural school districts many of which need referenda to maintain educational opportunities for children. This bill, if adopted, could have the effect of forcing districts to consider dissolving or consolidating if they cannot pass such referenda and are barred from going back to their voters for two years (or more).
- This bill will further exacerbate the trend of creating “Haves” who can pass referenda and “Have Nots” who cannot. Opportunities for students will further be determined by their zip code.
- The bill is extremely restrictive and inflexible for school boards – under the bill in odd number years boards will only have one opportunity to go to referendum (in the spring). If that referendum fails, boards will have to wait two years to the next odd number year where once again there will only be one opportunity. In a state budget year a district would have to wait until the following spring to react to funding decisions made by the state.
- Limiting referendum date selection for capital projects such as new buildings, renovations or additions will reduce the effective planning of these projects to meet the needs of students and citizens. What’s more, a poorly-timed referendum date could add to the construction time-frame and possibly increase costs to taxpayers.
For your convenience in contacting your legislators, we have provided links to the Assembly Directory, the Senate Directory and Who Are My Legislators.
If you should have any questions please email me. Thanks for listening and, as always, thank you for everything you do on behalf of Wisconsin school children.
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