Final Public Hearing on State Budget Scheduled for Thursday!

The final public hearing on the state budget will be held this Thursday at Reedsburg High School.

Thursday, March 26 (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)*
Reedsburg High School
CAL Center Auditorium
1100 South Albert Avenue
Reedsburg, WI 53959

You can also submit written comments to budgetcomments@legis.wisconsin.gov

Or attend a listening session in your own legislative district. Check out this list for updated opportunities (updated 3-24-15).

Common School Fund Check Presentation Sets New Record for Earnings

On Monday at the annual WEMTA Conference, the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL) presented the Common School Fund check for $35.5 million to the Department of Public Instruction.  This year's check sets a new record for earnings!  Two of the three Commissioners, Attorney General Brad Schimel and Secretary of State Doug LaFollette, presented the check to Assistant State Superintendent for Libraries and Technology Kurt Kiefer.

Commissioner Secretary of State Doug LaFollette, Commissioner Attorney General Brad Schimel and Assistant State Superintendent Kurt Kiefer.

The Common School Fund is a permanent endowment for public education that is managed by the BCPL.  Our State Constitution established the Common School Fund as well as the BCPL which is comprised of the Secretary of State, State Treasurer and Attorney General.  Library aid presented through the Common School Fund is the only source of state funding for public school libraries. 

To see a breakdown of distribution by school district click here.

Board of Commissioners of Public Lands: Record $35.5 Million Fund Distribution Enough to Put a Book in the Hand of Every Wisconsin Child

Opportunities for Public Comment on State Budget

The next public hearing on the state budget is this Monday in Rice Lake, and the final hearing is this Thursday in Reedsburg.

Monday, March 23 (10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)*

University of Wisconsin-Barron County
Fine Arts Theatre
1800 College Drive
Rice Lake, WI 54868

Thursday, March 26 (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)*
Reedsburg High School
CAL Center Auditorium
1100 South Albert Avenue
Reedsburg, WI 53959

Many legislators are also holding in-district listening session on the proposed budget. Take a look at this list to see if your state legislator has an opportunity for public comment within the next month. 

Public Hearings on the State Budget Announced

      

            The Joint Finance Committee will hold public hearings on the 2015-17 state budget on the following dates:

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•          10 a.m.-- 5 pm:Wednesday, March 18 at Brillion High School
• ·         10 am – 5 pm: Friday, March 20 at Alverno College in Milwaukee
• ·         10 am – 5 pm: Monday, March 23 at UW Barron County in Rice Lake
• ·         9:30 am – 4 pm: Thursday, March 26 at the CAL Auditorium in Reedsburg. 

DPI to present testimony on 2015-17 state budget tomorrow

The Department of Public Instruction will go before the Joint Finance Committee on Tuesday to discuss the proposed 2015-17 budget and its impact on public education. The full JFC schedule for tomorrow is available below and the hearing can be viewed on Wisconsin Eye.

To read the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau's summary of the proposed state budget, click here.

Joint Finance Committee Agency Budget Briefings

Tuesday, March 3 (9:00 a.m.)

• Department of Natural Resources
• Department of Workforce Development
• University of Wisconsin System
• Department of Public Instruction
• Department of Health Services