Governor Doyle’s vetoes protect MATC’s funding!

November 9, 2007


Governor Doyle Vetoes New WTCS Levy Limits

At a budget signing ceremony on Friday, October 26 attended by UW students, firefighters, police officers, public employees and local 212 members Aimee Davis, Edelmiro Dominguez, Marietta Love, Phyllis Holder, Susan Retzer, Michael Rosen, and Joe Tuttle, Governor Doyle signed a 2007-2009 budget with the “fewest vetoes in thirty-five years.”

The Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) batted “2-for-2” as the Governor vetoed both the new property levy limit imposed on WTCS districts, and restrictive language placed on a portion of the new Workforce Advancement Training grant funds.

Later that same morning the Governor made a surprise appearance at the AFT Wisconsin state convention. He was greeted with a standing ovation and thunderous applause. 212 delegate Mariam Ben-Shalom thanked Governor Doyle for his support of MATC and gave him a Local 212 T-shirt.

Doyle Vetoes Levy Limits

Governor Doyle’s veto of the property tax levy limit means that MATC will not have to cut $3.7 million worth of classes, programs and services to students!

In remarks that received the loudest ovation at the budget signing, the Governor characterized his veto of the WTCS levy cap an investment in the state’s workforce and future prosperity. He noted that students and employers are happy with the state’s technical colleges and that only a handful of republican zealots from Door County ever criticize them.

The veto, which preserves the longstanding 1.5% mill rate cap, means that levies formalized this month are able to stand without revision or penalty to the districts.

It also means that 14 technical colleges, including MATC, which were threatened with almost $8 million in reduced funding will not have to cut program access or services.

This is the fourth time Governor Doyle has vetoed a budget provision or stand-alone bill designed to further cap WTCS levies. Local 212 President Michael Rosen said: ”Governor Doyle is aware that state funding for tech colleges has declined by over 50% since 1990. He vetoed this misguided levy cap to ensure economic opportunity for the citizens of this state.”

Workforce Grant Restrictions also Vetoed

The Governor also vetoed language restricting the use of Workforce Advancement Training grant funds. The budget bill provides a $3 million increase for these grants, doubling the program from $1 million to $2 million this year, and tripling it to $3 million next year. The Joint Finance Committee supported this increase (one-half of the Governor’s original proposal to add $6 million) but added language restricting the use of 50% of new funds.

The Governor’s veto removes all of the restrictions while expanding the funding.

Several policy items included in the Assembly proposal that 212 opposed were also excluded from the final Budget. These included:
• Mandated increases in tuition for Collegiate Transfer courses.
• The establishment of tuition for English Language Learner courses.
• Restrictions on the use of public tax dollars for college enterprise operations, such as cafeterias, bookstores and child care centers.

Thanks to all of you who emailed and called the Governor’s office and your elected representatives. Your efforts made a difference for our students, the businesses that hire them and MATC.

More photos of this event can be found here.