WisPolitics Political Stock Report: Prevailing Wage is Falling
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | May 4, 2015
From WisPolitics:
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos’ comments on a radio talk show mirror what he’s been saying all along: The political will isn’t there in the Legislature to repeal prevailing wage. But it still sends conservatives into a tizzy after right-wing media have spent weeks trying to tee up a repeal as a follow-up to right-to-work. To Capitol insiders, the dynamic on prevailing wage has been fairly static for weeks. Republicans who weren’t thrilled with taking up right-to-work don’t have the appetite for repealing prevailing wage this session. Right-to-work already has soured the GOP’s relationship with contractors, and doing prevailing wage would only exacerbate that. Also, it’s a much easier lift to “reform” prevailing wage than to repeal it. But after winning a surprisingly easy victory on right-to-work, conservatives want more. Though leadership continues to downplay support for the change in their houses, Senate Labor and Government Reform Committee Chair Steve Nass announces he’ll hold a public hearing Tuesday on legislation to repeal prevailing wage with an exec two days later. Nass and fellow Republican committee member Van Wanggaard are both co-sponsors of the bill, giving it a guaranteed two votes in committee. But both Dem members oppose the bill, and Sen. Howard Marklein, the third GOP member of the committee, tells WisPoliitcs.com he has doubts about how much repealing prevailing wage would save. Instead, he says making tweaks to the law is a more likely route. Backers insist the committee vote is a new opportunity to create momentum for repeal with pressure on Marklein. But the freshman state senator is from well outside the signal strength of Milwaukee talk radio and holds a Dem-leaning seat in southwestern Wisconsin. If backers can get Marklein to go along with the bill, it would put pressure on Senate leaders to bring it up for a vote. But some don’t see a path to passage in the full Senate. Meanwhile, some suggest the guv’s absence this year is playing a role in the debate. Vos goes public with some concerns that others in his party had expressed privately. The Rochester Republican says Walker hasn’t “been out there” on the bill and lawmakers sometimes need the guv to step up and help with message on something like this. Walker, when asked about it this week, says he has higher budget priorities than a repeal right now.
Topics: Legislative Action, SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
Lawmakers Dialog About Rural Schools’ Challenges
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 27, 2015
This is a great article from the Portage Daily Register about two legislators (Senator Luther Olsen and Representative Keith Ripp) visiting the Cambria-Friesland School District and discussing the challenges facing rural school districts in Wisconsin. Cambria-Friesland Superintendent Tim Raymond is quoted, as are the legislators and others.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
More Letters and Resolutions
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 24, 2015
Here are some more board resolutions and letters to legislators from the Cochrane-Fountain City, Palmyra, Rhinelander and Shawano school districts.
Cochrane-Fountain City Letter to Legislators
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Important Information: Non-Levy Fund 80 Balance Transfer
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 24, 2015
The SAA is reprinting the following important information from DPI with the Department’s permission and support.
NON-LEVY FUND 80 BALANCE TRANSFER: A one-time option to move non-levy fund balance dollars from Fund 80 to Fund 21 has been created, with prior DPI approval and passage of a Board of Education resolution. Many districts have Fund 80 balances with the intent to use these dollars in the future as allowed by prior law. State law was changed and school boards have limited options to address the use of accumulated Fund 80 balances.
School boards will have a one-time opportunity during 2014-2015 to move non-levy Fund 80 dollars to Fund 21 and in so, allow the district to honor the intent of this collection of non-levy revenue under existing state law and rule. The following process will be required:
1. District will provide the School Financial Services (SFS) Team with a written formal request. This request will include:
a. A cover letter that includes.
i. The dollar amount to be transferred and the non-levy source (e.g. fees, donations, etc.) of the balance.
ii. Description of how the Fund 80 balance came to be.
iii. A brief description of how these dollars will be used in the future based on current knowledge and district planning.
iv. The letter will explain how “rental fees” will be collected and recorded in the future to prevent a reoccurrence of significant non-levy fund balance.
1. WI Statute 120.13(17) allows a district to grant use of its facilities if such use does not interfere with school purposes or school-related activities and it involves a group that is not under the control of the school board. Facilities used for community service activities are typically owned by the district. Therefore, facility rental fees should be recorded in the general fund (Fund 10).
v. A statement that acknowledges the district will be responsible for any and all impacts on the Equalization Aid calculation this transaction creates now or in the future.
vi. The district understands that this is a one-time opportunity and all Board of Education transactions must be completed by July 31, 2015. The action will impact the 2014-2015 district financial statements.
2. A copy of the proposed formal resolution to be considered by the Board of Education. The resolution must clearly state the dollar amount to be transferred and the intended use of the non-levy balance. The SFS Team will review and approve the draft resolution to be presented to the Board of Education.
3. SFS Team will be allowed at least 10 working days to review the formal request starting on the day following receipt of the complete request.
a. The last date to provide a formal request will be Friday, July 17, 2015.
4. With the formal, documented approval of SFS, the Board of Education will then act on the formal resolution that has been pre-approved by the SFS Team.
5. This entire process (Board approval and transfer of funds) must be completed on or before Friday, July 31, 2015.
Send formal requests to Bruce W. Anderson at bruce.anderson@dpi.wi.gov and please copy DPI.SchoolFinancialServices@dpi.wi.gov. Please attach as PDF or Word documents your cover letter with justification and the draft School Board resolution. If you have questions, please contact Bruce W. Anderson at (608) 267-9707 or bruce.anderson@dpi.wi.gov.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update | No Comments »
Schools to Share $35.5 Million in Library Aid
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | April 23, 2015
According to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), public school districts throughout the state will share $35.5 million in library aid, which will be paid April 27 from the Common School Fund, the only state funding specifically designated for the purchase of materials for school libraries.
Additional information is available here.
The list of aid payments is in the official news release or can be found here.
Topics: SAA Capitol Reports, SAA Capitol Reports with Email Notifications, SAA Latest Update, Uncategorized | No Comments »