Legislative Update

February 17, 2021

 

2021-23 Biennial State Budget Update

Last night the Governor delivered his state budget address and released his proposal for the 2021-23 biennial budget, introduced as Assembly Bill 68/Senate Bill 111. Legislative leaders are expected to re-write much of the Governor’s plan. The Joint Finance Committee is expected to begin taking public testimony on the budget plan in March, and will likely begin making their changes to the bill some time in April.

Provisions affecting Wisconsin’s technical colleges will become clear as we continue reading through the massive 1,800-page bill, but the major proposals we’re aware of at this point include the following:

• $18 million annual increase in general aid to technical colleges.
• No change to current restrictions on offering Associate of Arts/Associate of Science degrees.
• 10% increase in need based Wisconsin Grants for technical college students, equating to roughly $2.3 million in 2021-22 and $4.6 million in 2022-23.
• Nonresident tuition exemptions extended to: active duty military, their spouses, and dependents; members of federally recognized tribes residing in states contiguous to Wisconsin; and persons who are noncitizens but who graduated from a Wisconsin high school.
• An increase in technical college revenue limits, equal to the annual percentage increase in net new construction or 2%, whichever is greater.
• $6.5 million annually to create a Minnesota-Wisconsin “vocational school” reciprocity agreement, administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board.

Look for additional Boards Association updates, as more information becomes available.