Assembly budget proposal cripples state’s
workforce
development efforts
MADISON – On a 51-44 vote, the Wisconsin Assembly approved a budget proposal crafted by the Republican Caucus that would significantly reduce the technical colleges’ ability to educate and train workers in critical industry sectors. Despite its long history of supporting public programs and initiatives that develop the state’s economic base, the Assembly version of the budget shows no recognition of the critical role that the WTCS plays in moving the state’s economy forward. In the last decade, more than half of Wisconsin’s adults have upgraded their skills and knowledge by enrolling in one or more technical college courses.
"The Governor, the Joint Committee on Finance and the Senate agreed that an investment in the WTCS had to be a priority in the state budget. Their budgets included increased funding for incumbent worker training, student financial aid, and veteran tuition benefits and recognized that the current levy limit on technical college districts is an effective fiscal management tool that enables colleges to rapidly respond to changing workforce needs of their communities," stated WTCS Board President Mary Quinnette Cuene. "In contrast, the Assembly Republican Caucus proposal will stifle economic development efforts throughout the state."
Reductions in state support and funding flexibility along with mandated tuition increases will be felt first by students who tend to be working adults with more unmet financial aid need than other Wisconsin college or university students. Dave Logghe, President of the Technical College District Boards Association stated, "This state is facing a skilled labor shortage and we all need to work together if we want our folks to stay here and we want our businesses to be strong and competitive. Wisconsin is lucky to have a solution in the Technical College System, but it doesn’t do any good if students can’t afford to go to college."
According to Dan Clancy, WTCS President, "The System has worked hard to exemplify responsive, transparent, and accountable public service. Our requests for state funding are realistic investments based on the needs of current students and existing Wisconsin employers, which provide exceptional returns to the state." A recent independent analysis of the economic impact of the WTCS, conducted by the nonpartisan Wisconsin Taxpayer’s Alliance, found that the technical colleges and their graduates contribute nearly $7 billion to the state’s annual output. Every dollar invested in a technical college graduate generates $4 dollars in new spending in the state’s economy.
"The combination of reduced state aid, double-digit tuition increases, unfunded mandates, greater unmet need for student financial aid and limits on property tax revenues proposed in the Assembly Republican Caucus budget will jeopardize access, quality and availability of technical college services," Board President Cue ne added. "At this critical point in our state’s economic survival, we cannot afford to cripple the public institution that Wisconsinites consider most important to our state’s economic development," she said.
The Wisconsin Technical College System has 16 technical college districts throughout Wisconsin, which offer more than 300 programs awarding two-year associate degrees, one and two-year technical diplomas and short-term technical diplomas. In addition, the System is the major provider of customized training and technical assistance to Wisconsin’s business and industry community. Find more about educational programs at www.witechcolleges.org.
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