Legislators React To LFB Projections
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 19, 2017
From WisPolitics.com …
JFC Co-chair John Nygren is pumping the brakes on any rush to commit the extra $713.6 million after the latest projections from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau.
The Marinette Republican noted it’s unclear how the incoming Trump administration will approach programs such as Medicaid and if there will be additional federal aid for transportation. He also noted the projection is based off an expectation the Trump administration will set policies that boost the economy.
“Just like economists can paint a more pessimistic picture a couple of months back, painting a more rosy one now doesn’t give me reason to go out and spend a lot of money,” Nygren said.
LFB expects the state to collect $454.6 million more in taxes through mid-2019 than what the Walker administration had projected in November.
LFB also is now projecting a gross balance on June 30 of $427.2 million, $322.4 million more than the Walker administration projected in November. That includes $63.4 million in additional tax collections that are part of the overall bump of $454.6 million.
The bottom line is $713.6 million more than the state was expecting through mid-2019. When the administration announced its revenue projections in November, agencies had requested $693 million more than what the state was expecting to take in. The additional money means the administration could cover all of that and still have money left over, though it’s expected Gov. Scott Walker will pare back at least some of the agency requests as he has highlighted aid for public K-12 schools, the UW System and cutting college tuition among his top priorities.
Others have already suggested the money should go toward tax cuts or other priorities, while Dems have raised the caution flag about the numbers.
Rep. Dale Kooyenga, the Assembly vice-chair of Joint Finance, said he wants to work with lawmakers to direct the additional revenue to “lowering Wisconsin’s tax burden, improving education and transportation needs.”
The Brookfield Republican said the state continues to “prove that smart budgeting works.”
“We froze property taxes and cut income taxes and our state revenue has continued to increase,” he said. “We refused to grow government and instead demanded efficiencies that help our seniors, families and young professionals.”
Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh and a Joint Finance member, pointed to the revenue growth for 2016-17 being lower than the LFB had projected at this point last year. The LFB report last year had projected the state would grow its general tax fund collections by $480.1 million, or 3.2 percent. In yesterday’s report, the LFB projected an increase of $406.1 million, or 2.7 percent. That includes a roughly $100 million dip in corporate tax collections.
The state budget, he said, got “bailed out by savings” from agencies, including the Medicaid savings.
“It’s hard to look at (the) report and say, ‘Oh, this is great,'” he said. “From a long-term standpoint, you would prefer to have better economic growth producing new revenue.”
Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, meanwhile, called for Walker to stop “handing out taxpayer subsidies to companies that outsource jobs” and instead focus on helping the middle class.
“The updated numbers prove what Democrats have been saying all along,” the La Crosse Dem said. “Working families are paying millions more in taxes while corporations and the well-connected are benefiting from massive Republican giveaways.”
See the LFB memo here.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
Revenue Projections Up by $454 Million
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 19, 2017
From WisPolitics.com …
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau gave the budget a boost yesterday, both in how much money the Capitol will have to play with in 2017-19 and the state’s ending balance for 2015-17.
In November, the Walker administration had projected nearly $1.4 billion in revenue growth for 2017-19.
But LFB today upped by $454.6 million the state’s expected tax haul through mid-2019. That includes $63.4 million more in the current budget, which runs through June 30.
LFB also is now projecting a gross balance on June 30 of $427.2 million, $322.4 million more than the Walker administration projected in November.
LFB chalked that up to the expected bump in tax collections, $33 million more than anticipated in departmental revenues and a $226 million drop in net appropriations.
In November, the Walker administration reported spending requests from state agencies outstripped revenue projections by $693 million. The higher ending balance for 2015-17 and the increase in revenue projections would more than wipe that out even before the guv and lawmakers begin paring agency requests.
Walker said in a news release the numbers indicate the state economy “is in the best shape it’s been in 15 years.”
“These growing revenue numbers are a sign that what we’re doing in Wisconsin is working,” he said. “While this is certainly good news, our budget priorities will remain the same. We will increase funding to public education at all levels, continue tax relief, and reward work.”
See the LFB memo here.
See Wisconsin State Journal Coverage here.
See Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Coverage here.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
Estimated CPI, Base Wage Negotoiation Reminders
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 19, 2017
The Boardman & Clark law firm recently published this School Law Update entitled “Estimated CPI for Bargaining Agreements Beginning July 1, 2017, and Other Base Wage Negotiation Reminders”.
The SAA regularly receives these updates and we believe this is valuable information for SAA members. We are distributing this update to SAA members with the permission of Boardman & Clark.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update, SAA Legal Side | No Comments »
Grebe to Co-Host Humphries Fundraiser
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 18, 2017
Check out this Wisconsin State Journal story about GOP heavy-hitter Michael Grebe co-hosting a fundraiser Wednesday for state superintendent candidate John Humphries.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
Advocate For School Start Date Repeal
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | January 16, 2017
As you know, repeal of the school start date is a high priority on the SAA’s 2017-19 Legislative Agenda. I am advocating for repeal in every meeting I have with legislators and staff inside the Capitol. I know that many SAA members are actively advocating for start date repeal with their legislators as well. If you have not yet done so, please consider doing so soon. How?
You can encourage your school board to adopt a resolution and forward it to Governor Walker and your legislators. You could also forward a letter to policy makers detailing your districts arguments in favor of repeal. Finally, you could take Northland Pines Superintendent Mike Richie’s lead and seek a letter of support from your chamber of commerce.
I have linked examples of these materials below. Please forward your letters and resolutions to the SAA. I will post them to encourage other SAA members to advocate for repeal as well.
Northland Pines Resolution And Chamber Letters
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »