Governor Walker Introduces 2017-19 State Budget

Governor Walker introduced his 2017-19 state budget Wednesday afternoon before a joint session of the Legislature. During his budget address, Walker highlighted his proposed $649 million increase to K-12 education, $100  million funding increase to UW and a 5% tuition cut, statewide broadband expansion, income and property tax cuts, and welfare reform initiatives.  

“To help improve student success, we are investing more money into education than ever before in the history of Wisconsin,” said Walker during his address.

Finding a solution to the state’s $1 billion transportation budget shortfall is already shaping up to be one of the biggest fights of this budget cycle. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) is calling for revenue-raising measures such as increasing the gas tax or vehicle registration fees, but Walker says he will not increase taxes. Vos has said he is willing to continue debating the budget until October if that’s how long it takes to come up with a transportation funding solution.  Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) says he expects the legislature to add additional “conservative reforms” to the budget. Democratic members of the Joint Finance Committee blasted the proposal, saying Walker is trying to take credit for fixing problems he created.

Now that the budget has been introduced, it will be referred to the Joint Finance Committee, which will hold public hearings on the Governor’s proposal. Members of the Joint Finance Committee can add, remove or modify any budget provisions.

We are still reviewing the budget bill and will provide additional updates to you as we learn more.  Current items of interest that we have identified, include:

Per Pupil Aid: The Governor recommends increasing per pupil aid from $250 per pupil to $450 per pupil in 2018 and $654 in 2019. The Governor also recommends increasing transparency by requiring school districts to certify compliance with 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 prior to receiving per pupil aid.

TEACH Program: The Governor recommends: (a) continuing the Technology for Educational Achievement (TEACH) information technology infrastructure grant program until July 1, 2019, resulting in an additional $15 million in available grants; (b) expanding the permitted uses of grants under the program to include providing mobile hotspots on buses and purchasing mobile

hotspots for individuals to borrow from schools; (c) expanding the eligibility for these grants in the 2017-18 school year to include school districts that have up to 26 pupils per square mile.; (d) increasing expenditure authority for the 2018 grant cycle by an additional $7.5 million; and (e) consolidating the five separate TEACH appropriations into one appropriation.

Library Service Contracts: The Governor fully funds the estimated costs of the library service contracts maintained by DPI.

Common School Fund Re-estimate: Estimated funding projections for the Common School Fund are about $4 million lower than previously estimated.

Enrollment in Virtual Schools: The Governor recommends limiting the opportunities for enrollment in virtual schools to the beginning of a semester for students that are frequently truant in order to encourage regular attendance.

Newsline for the Blind: The Governor fully funds Newsline for the Blind.

Broadband Expansion Funding: The budget increases funding for the broadband expansion grant program. It also makes changes that would transfer unspent money in the Universal Service Fund to the broadband expansion grant program.

Aid to Public Library Systems:  The budget maintains current funding for public library systems.

Wisconsin Media Lab Funding: The Governor did not accept the Educational Communications Board's request to re-instate funding for the Wisconsin Media Lab.

Academic Freedom: The Governor recommends codifying the State's commitment to academic freedom. The Governor also recommends providing funding for the UW System to review and revise policies related to academic freedom.

Teacher Development Program: The Governor recommends creating a teacher development program. Under the program, school districts may collaborate with a school of education or the University of Wisconsin-Extension to provide district employees, who work directly with students and have a bachelor's degree, with the necessary curriculum and experience to become fully licensed teachers. To support these collaborations, the Governor recommends: (a) requiring the University of Wisconsin System to create a Flexible Option program to provide the curriculum for such a program; (b) providing $700,000 in institutional financial aid to the University of Wisconsin System for Flexible Option financial aid; and (c) permitting school districts that enter into collaborations to seek reimbursement or grants for the collaboration through the Wisconsin Fast Forward worker training program in the Department of Workforce Development.

Shared Services for School Districts: The Governor recommends supporting rural schools by permitting districts to jointly provide the following services required by state law: (a) reading specialists, (b) bilingual-bicultural programs, (c) lifesaving skills instruction, (d) emergency nursing services, (e) attendance and truancy staff, (f) guidance and counseling services, (g) technical preparation programs for high schools, and (h) gifted and talented programs.

Teacher and Administrator Licensure Reform: The Governor recommends reforming the teacher and administrator licensure systems to ease administrative burdens on the department and school districts, and time and financial burdens on teachers and administrators. The Governor also recommends that teaching and administrator licenses be perpetual, other than in cases of misconduct, and reducing the department's staffing and revenues to reflect the elimination of the license renewal systems. The Governor intends that the educator effectiveness system be used by school districts to ensure excellence and accountability in the state's teaching and education leadership workforce.

School District Flexibilities: The Governor recommends repealing the following state mandates on K-12 public schools: (a) minimum hours of instruction, (b) required monthly school board meetings, (c) the required hour and date for annual school board meetings, (d) school administrator contract term limitations of two years, (e) certain requirements related to purchasing recycled and recyclable products, and (f) the requirement to submit statements of indebtedness to the Secretary of State upon request.

College Professors in High Schools: The Governor recommends permitting postsecondary faculty to teach in high schools without a teaching license if the faculty are in good standing with their employing institution and have a bachelor's degree.

Parental Choice Programs: The Governor provides an additional $42 million to the Milwaukee, Racine and statewide parental choice programs to reflect estimated enrollment and an increase in the per pupil payments of $217 in each year.

Governor Walker’s full budget address can be read here.

Governor Walker’s Executive Budget Summary

NBC 15: Republican says Legislature wants more reforms.

Joint Finance Committee Democrats: Gov. Walker's budget a reflection of failed leadership

Joint Finance Committee Co-Chair Senator Darling and Representative Nygren: Statement on Governor Walker's 2017-19 Budget Plan