Moraine Park Technical College president, Bonnie Baerwald, along with the other 15 Wisconsin Technical College System presidents (Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Fox Valley Technical College, Mid-State Technical College, Northcentral Technical College, Gateway Technical College, Blackhawk Technical College, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, Nicolet Technical College, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Chippewa Valley Technical College, Western Technical College, Madison Area Technical College, Northwood Technical College, Lakeshore Technical College, and Waukesha County Technical College) are responding to Gov. Tony Evers’ bipartisan budget surplus proposal announced May 11 and highlighting the importance of sustained, long-term investment in workforce education.

Under the proposal, additional state funding would reduce local technical college property tax levies by an equal amount. According to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the proposal would shift a portion of technical college funding from local property taxes to state support, rather than provide an additional $50 million in new long-term investment into Wisconsin’s technical colleges or workforce education.

Despite the $50 million figure, college leaders are clarifying that no new money would flow to technical colleges under this proposal. Funding would simply move from one pocket to another, from local property tax levies to state support, without increasing colleges’ capacity to expand programs or train more workers.

What this proposal means for technical colleges

• The proposal would change how technical colleges are funded by shifting a portion of funding responsibility from local taxpayers to the state, which reduces the ability to diversify revenues and creates a stronger reliance on state funding, which is neither predictable nor reliable.
• Technical colleges would not receive additional long-term funding to expand programs, increase capacity, or train additional workers.
• Colleges would continue facing growing workforce demands across healthcare, manufacturing, skilled trades, public safety, construction, and information technology.

“The proposed budget is detrimental to Wisconsin’s technical colleges, as it reduces our ability to diversify revenues and creates a stronger reliance on state funding, which is neither predictable nor reliable,” Baerwald said. “Wisconsin’s technical colleges have been funded by tax levy for more than 110 years, and this system has allowed us to remain responsive to our communities and provide strong economic value. Our strong community ties and value were clearly demonstrated with the passing of our referendum in 2022, which received an overwhelming majority vote in all 10 counties we serve. We strongly encourage Governor Evers to reassess the proposed budget so that technical colleges retain levy authority, allowing us to remain responsive to local communities and continue providing strong economic value.”

Wisconsin employers across nearly every sector continue to face significant workforce shortages, while technical colleges prepare much of the workforce needed to fill those high-demand careers.

“Wisconsin’s technical colleges recognize the financial pressures facing families and communities across the state, and we appreciate bipartisan efforts to provide taxpayer relief,” the college presidents said in a joint statement. “At the same time, long-term investment in workforce education remains critical to meeting Wisconsin’s growing labor needs and ensuring technical colleges can continue expanding training opportunities for students and employers across our state.”

The colleges said they remain committed to working collaboratively with Gov. Evers, legislative leaders, and state policymakers throughout the budget process to identify sustainable, long-term funding solutions that strengthen Wisconsin’s workforce and support the evolving needs of employers, students, and communities across the state.

Moraine Park encourages community members to make their voices heard by contacting their state legislators and sharing concerns about the proposed budget. Wisconsin’s technical colleges are the backbone of our communities, supporting local business and industry by preparing the workforce our state depends on. Without sustainable, locally driven funding, our ability to continue meeting community and workforce needs will be impacted.

Residents can find local legislators by visiting: https://maps.legis.wisconsin.gov/

Submitted by Moraine Park Technical College

The full release is also available at morainepark.edu/today.