Joint Finance Committee Update
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | May 16, 2023
Joint Finance Committee update from Wispolitics.com:
The Joint Finance Committee resumes its work on the state budget today. The agenda includes Circuit Courts, the Supreme Court, District Attorneys and the Public Defender.
It’s the first committee meeting since the Legislative Fiscal Bureau released revised revenue projections yesterday. The state is still projected to finish this fiscal year with a surplus of $6.9 billion rather than the $7.1 billion previously projected. It’s also expected to see tax collections come in $1.6 billion higher over the 2023-25 biennium than the 2021-23 budget.
The committee will meet again on Thursday, the agenda includes the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the Environmental Improvement Fund and the Department of Natural Resources.
See more on the LFB revenue projections here.
New Budget Resource:
WASBO developed a new resource, a video that provides an overview of Wisconsin school finance and what the outcomes of the 2023-25 state budget could mean for school districts and their ability to serve their schools and students. It is our hope that this resource will help you and others as part of any outreach you are doing to educate your community and stakeholders about school finance in general and what might be coming up for your district related to the 2023-25 state budget. You can find the video here.
Budget Advocacy:
In addition to the above resource, you can find links to talking points and sample testimony on the SAA website. We continue to expect that education will be taken up later in the executive session process but stay tuned, the calendar will remain fluid and can change on a dime.
It is critically important that we use this time to continue to communicate the needs of our schools and students to not only your local legislators but also the members of the Joint Finance Committee. We have heard positive feedback regarding the consensus around messaging our needs. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to email your legislators and the Joint Finance Committee. I encourage you to keep up consistent communication during the portion of committee deliberations. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance in drafting communications to your legislator.
Joint Finance Member Emails
Rep.Born@legis.wisconsin.gov
Sen.Marklein@legis.wisconsin.gov
rep.katsma@legis.wisconsin.gov
sen.strobel@legis.wisconsin.gov
sen.felzkowski@legis.wisconsin.gov
sen.ballweg@legis.wisconsin.gov
sen.testin@legis.wisconsin.gov
sen.wimberger@legis.wisconsin.gov
sen.johnson@legis.wisconsin.gov
sen.roys@legis.wisconsin.gov
rep.zimmerman@legis.wisconsin.gov
rep.rodriguez@legis.wisconsin.gov
rep.kurtz@legis.wisconsin.gov
rep.dallman@legis.wisconsin.gov
rep.goyke@legis.wisconsin.gov
rep.mcguire@legis.wisconsin.gov
Topics: Legislative Action, SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
Joint Finance Begins Executive Sessions
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | May 2, 2023
The listening sessions held by the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) across the state concluded last week in Minocqua. Thank you so much to everyone who time from their busy schedules to attend or submit testimony. In each hearing the support for K-12 public education was strong, our messages were consistent and the individual district stories were powerful.
We now move into the Executive Session portion of the budget where JFC will begin voting on different provisions of the state budget. It is expected that public education will come up near the end of May. We must continue to have consistent contact with local legislators and the members of JFC. It is a critical time as decision makers begin to dedicate state resources to different priority areas. Please consider contacting your legislator. Contact information for legislators can be found here by inserting your address in the box found at the top right corner of the page. The email addresses for Joint Finance members are listed below to aid in your communication as well as links to testimony that was provided to JFC by your colleagues. If you have questions regarding your communication to your legislators, please don’t hesitate to contact me at dee.pettack@wsaa.org. If you need to make sure you have updated and accurate data/facts to support your local story – review the resources that Anne Chapman, WASBO Research Director, has made available on the WASBO website and/or reach out to her directly at anne.chapman@wasbo.com for additional support.
JFC begins their Executive Sessions (voting) on this State Budget today beginning at 11am. The committee will begin by acting on a motion that would remove 545 items (both fiscal and non-fiscal) Governor Evers included in his Executive Budget, the JFC will also vote on the following issue areas:
- Board for People with Developmental Disabilities
- Court of Appeals
- Elections Commission
- Fox River Navigational System
- Governor
- Investment Board
- Judicial Commission
- Kickapoo Reserve Management Board
- Labor and Industry Review Commission
- Lieutenant Governor
- Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board
- State Fair Park
- Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority
On Thursday, May 5th the committee will vote on the budgets of another dozen agencies including the Legislature, Secretary of State, State Treasurer and the Educational Communications Board. The full hearing notice can be seen here.
Again, we expect education to be taken up later in the executive session process, but stay tuned, these plans are fluid and can always change on a dime.
Links to Talking Points & Testimony
SAA talking points can be found here.
Testimony from colleagues:
Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo:
Legislative Fiscal Bureau Memo on Inflationary Increases for Schools
Joint Finance Member Emails
Rep.Born@legis.wisconsin.gov
Sen.Marklein@legis.wisconsin.gov
rep.katsma@legis.wisconsin.gov
sen.strobel@legis.wisconsin.gov
sen.felzkowski@legis.wisconsin.gov
sen.ballweg@legis.wisconsin.gov
sen.testin@legis.wisconsin.gov
sen.wimberger@legis.wisconsin.gov
sen.johnson@legis.wisconsin.gov
sen.roys@legis.wisconsin.gov
rep.zimmerman@legis.wisconsin.gov
rep.rodriguez@legis.wisconsin.gov
rep.kurtz@legis.wisconsin.gov
rep.dallman@legis.wisconsin.gov
rep.goyke@legis.wisconsin.gov
rep.mcguire@legis.wisconsin.gov
Topics: Legislative Action, SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
Members Only Post01
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 27, 2023
Here’s the first post that will only be available to members.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports | No Comments »
Members-Only Coming Soon
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 27, 2023
The new Members-Only SAA site redesign is here. You’ll now need a membership to access most of the SAA’s content.
Q: How do I create a new Account?
A: Start with the Membership Levels page. Select the MembersOnly membership level with a price of Free. Click the Select button to fill out your Membership’s Account Information.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports | No Comments »
Reminder: Last Budget Listening Session
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 25, 2023
Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 26th, the last 23-25 state budget hearing hosted by the Joint Finance Committee will convene in Minocqua. By the end of the day, the portal through which to submit written testimony will close. Please consider submitting your written testimony before the window closes tomorrow.
https://legis.wisconsin.gov/topics/budgetcomments/submit-comment/.
You should also consider sending a copy of your testimony to your local legislators. If you need assistance obtaining contact information for your legislator, please use this link.
Thank you again to everyone who has taken the time to testify at the previous budget hearings or at the hearing tomorrow.
Topics: Legislative Action, SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »