DPI Superintendent Jill Underly Heard By Joint Finance Committee In Eau Claire

By Baylor Spears, Wisconsin Examiner

April 12, 2023

Wisconsin Department of Instruction Superintendent Jill Underly, after not being called to give an agency briefing almost two weeks ago, urged the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) to approve Gov. Tony Evers’ $2.6 billion in proposed school funding while testifying alongside members of the public at a Tuesday budget listening session in Eau Claire.

“Districts are hurting because running schools costs money, and they do not have enough,” Underly told the committee . “They do not have enough because their one-time federal funds are set to expire. They do not have enough because they have not seen meaningful increases in general aid or revenue limits for far too long, especially when faced with inflationary costs. They do not have enough because they have to transfer funds – we’re talking about millions of dollars – from their general funds to cover legally required special education services due to our state’s abysmal reimbursement rate.”

Underly’s testimony, delivered during a public listening session at the UW-Eau Claire Davis Student Center, marked the first time she has directly addressed the committee.

The JFC has the option each biennium to hold briefings with agency leaders and representatives, who get the opportunity to explain agency budget requests and answer questions from lawmakers. The Republican-led committee heard from just four agencies this session including the Department of Corrections, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Safety and Professional Services and the Department of Administration.

Underly said last week during a press conference streamed by WisEye she was “surprised and also hurt” by not being invited to brief the committee, partially, she said, because education is a big priority among Wisconsinites, and there could be major repercussions for not passing the Evers’ budget.

JFC co-chair Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) said in a statement to the Cap Times last week the committee “does not need to bring in Dr. Underly to hear more empty promises about how DPI wants to better serve our kids.”

“Republicans are gathering feedback from families and local school district officials across the state and will craft a budget that supports our kids and gives teachers and schools the tools they need to improve our students’ educational outcomes,” Born continued.

Evers proposed an increase of more than $2.6 billion for public schools in his 2023-2025 executive budget. The proposal includes $1 billion for the state’s general equalization aid formula, more than $1 billion for special education funding and an increase in schools’ per pupil revenue limit by $350 in the first year of the budget and an additional $650 in the second year.

Other proposals include programs targeted at supporting specific aspects of students’ wellbeing including $120 million to create the “Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids” program, which would provide free school breakfast and lunch for all Wisconsin students, regardless of income levels and more than $270 million to support school-based mental health resources.

“Wisconsin districts do not have enough money, and when schools are underfunded, when schools are hurting, you know who gets hurt the most? Our kids. And that is unacceptable,” Underly told the committee.

Republicans have gutted Evers’ school funding proposals in past budget cycles. During the 2021-2023 budget cycle, Republicans provided less than 10% of the spending Evers called for in his original school budget proposal citing the federal pandemic aid schools were slated to receive. The current budget passed by the Legislature didn’t include an increase in schools’ revenue caps, meaning additional funding could only be used as property tax relief.

Underly told the committee she was hopeful about the prospect of providing more for schools this cycle.

“We have a historic opportunity in this budget to robustly and meaningfully fund our public schools and libraries in Wisconsin, and I am hopeful because doing so will create lasting impact on the future of this state,” Underly said. “What an incredible legacy you will leave when you pass this budget and support our public schools and libraries. What a difference you stand to make.”

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