New budget bill won't include school aids certification date change
The compromise bill Gov. Jim Doyle presents to legislators later this week will not include a change in the school aids certification date, according to spokesman Matt Canter.
By state statute, on Oct. 15 DPI Supt. Libby Burmaster must send to school districts figures indicating the amount of equalization aids funding the state will provide. Doyle had suggested that date could be changed by the Legislature, but he will not provide that change in his bill.
"If they pass that bill, they may be able to address the problem they've created," Canter said.
The compromise bill will include a number of provisions that have been agreed to in negotiations, according to Canter. The bill should be available before the end of the week, he said.
"Everyone knows Speaker Huebsch offered a cigarette tax as well as a transfer from the Patients Compensation Fund," Canter said.
"The governor called the leaders to negotiations to make compromises and come to an agreement. Both sides made compromises, and the governor thought they had made progress, and then Speaker Huebsch backed away," Canter said.
The bill will also include items such as tobacco control grants, funding for the UW system, financial aid for college students, and more funding for Milwaukee.
Canter said if legislators refuse to take up the compromise bill or refuse the special session, "Then they're refusing to do their job.
"It's their job to pass a budget. It's their legal obligation to pass a budget, more interested in scoring political points than doing what's best for Wisconsin."
