JFC Sets Budget Procedure; QEO Repeal Stripped from Budget
Gov. Jim Doyle's budget proposals to repeal the qualified economic offer for teacher pay and to provide domestic partner benefits were among the initiatives discarded in the interest of bringing the Joint Finance Committee to the table for 2007-09 budget negotiations.
Today, the JFC co-chairs, Sen. Russ Decker, D-Weston, and Rep. Kitty Rhoades, R-Hudson, announced an agreement on which items in Gov. Jim Doyle's budget proposal to discard as non-fiscal policy, which agencies will be negotiated from the starting point of Doyle's proposal, and which will be taken from the current base level of funding.
The Joint Finance Committee is expected to begin meeting in executive session late next week.
In a press release, Rhoades says that the negotiations resulted in the removal of nearly $18 million in fee increases, $42 million in segregated fund transfers, and $32 million in new transfers out of the Transportation Fund.
Items identified as policy will be introduced as separate legislation.
Also cut from Doyle's budget document:
* A mandate for insurance coverage of autism spectrum disorders, a proposal of the governor's that received a lot of attention during public hearings, was pulled out as policy, as were two other insurance mandates.
* A provision to modify the retirement accrual formula for educational support personnel, another topic committee members heard about during public hearings.
* A proposal to allow UW System faculty and academic staff to collectively bargain.
* A proposal to reinstate the position of Public Intervenor in the Department of Justice.
See the procedure and policy memo here.
See a press release from Rhoades here.
See a press release from Decker here.
