School lockers, generic school. PC: Fox 11 Online
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — After hours of delays, the Joint Finance Committee — along a part line vote — approved a motion Thursday night to include around $229 million in new funding toward special education in its version of the next state budget.
However, the funding provided is significantly less than what was proposed by Democrats, which looked to increase the primary special education reimbursement rate to 60%.
What was approved by the JFC would put the reimbursement rate at 35% in year one of the next two-year budget, and 37.5% in year two.
“The budget has to be right sized to what’s affordable. The governor’s budget is always reckless spending that the state can’t afford,” said State Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, who is co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee.
“Today isn’t really about politicians fighting over numbers. What it is about is real people and how our schools impact their lives,” said State Rep. Tip McGuire, D-Kenosha, ahead of Thursday’s budget session.
Green Bay Area Public School District Superintendent Vicki Bayer says this past academic year, their reimbursement rate was 30%.
What’s not covered by the state is paid for by school districts with money that could be used in other educational areas.
“Every year, we have to take about $35 million from our general fund that supports all of our students, and we have to shift that over to cover the expenses for students with disabilities,” said Bayer.
“We have property taxpayers shouldering the burden,” said State Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, during the budget session. “We are pitting communities against each other.”
The public instruction motion presented by Democrats also looked to provide the Department of Public Instruction with more than $1.1 billion in additional funds for general school aids. The GOP motion did not address general aids.
Republicans assert they are further investing in education, and say the Democratic proposal could put the state at a massive budget shortfall down the line.
“Look at the deficit and stop painting the rest of our colleagues as somehow not caring about our students. We absolutely do,” said State Sen. Romaine Quinn, R-Birchwood.
Republicans point out that a line-item veto by Governor Tony Evers in the last budget already includes increases to education spending through the year 2425.
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