Wisconsin Senate Bill SB817

Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 12/19/23
• Refer: 12/19/23
• Failed: 4/15/24

Caption

A school district revenue limit adjustment for the cost of unfunded state mandates on school districts. (FE)

Impact

If enacted, SB 817 will empower school districts to request increased revenue limits from the Department of Public Instruction based on the incurred costs of complying with these newly mandated actions. This adjustment will not only impact the financial operations within individual school districts but could reshape how state mandates are perceived and enacted, ensuring they come with appropriate funding allocations. Additionally, it would necessitate a review process whereby the Department of Public Instruction would have to approve the requests for increased revenue limits based on documented costs.

Summary

Senate Bill 817 proposes a significant modification to the way school districts can adjust their revenue limits, specifically in response to costs incurred from unfunded state mandates. The bill defines an 'unfunded mandate' as any requirement set by state law after the bill's enactment that obligates school boards to provide services or take actions without accompanying funding. This adjustment is designed to give school districts more financial flexibility when state laws impose new requirements without securing the necessary funds to implement these changes.

Contention

There may be contention surrounding the implementation of this bill as it could lead to logistical challenges in determining which mandates qualify as 'unfunded.' Proponents argue that it ensures schools are not financially burdened by state requirements, while opponents may raise concerns about the potential for misuse of this provision or the administrative burden of requiring districts to continuously seek approval for revenue adjustments. Furthermore, there may be skepticism regarding how this affects the overall funding landscape for education in Wisconsin, especially if a significant number of mandates are enacted without corresponding funding.

Notable_points

The bill modifies existing statutes related to school district revenue limits, specifically adjusting the revenue limit to include costs from unfunded mandates under certain conditions. Importantly, this means that if school districts receive state funding that equals or exceeds the costs incurred, no revenue adjustment will be made. This provision is critical as it draws a line between genuine financial need and state support, affecting the funding dynamics between local school boards and state legislature.