Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/916449
17 Now is the Time! The upcoming 64th Wyoming Legislative Session has those of us in public education worried and a bit excited. This year may be a turning point; our state is faced with a serious budget deficit. Once again, we find ourselves in a "bust," but this bust is different from those of the past. No longer do we have the robust mineral industry upon which we rely for 70% of the state's budget. Nationwide, coal-fired power plants are converting to the much cheaper alternative, natural gas. While Wyoming still has an abundance of coal reserves, the sale of coal becomes more challenging than ever. We may never see the likes of coal revenue that we have in the past, and we can no longer rely upon it to fund our education system. It is time for the Wyoming Legislature to look at alternative, more stable sources of revenue to fill the state's coffers. Revenue Options At the most recent Joint Revenue Committee meeting, legislators completed an extensive review of possible revenue diversions to ease the current budget deficit, and introduced legislation to increase taxes. Proposed tax increases span the sale of liquor, beer, and tobacco to an optional penny tax at the city and county level. A proposed one-half percent increase in sales tax is slated to fund capital construction projects for K-12 schools. A tourism tax, aimed primarily at out-of-state taxpayers is also on the table. Members of the Revenue Committee are also considering an increase in property taxes and taxes on services that are currently exempt. It appears these legislators are finally recognizing that Wyoming voters support an increase in taxes, especially if the revenue is slated for K-12 education. This attitude was borne out in a recent WEA poll that showed 78% of registered voters support this option. We applaud the Revenue Committee and other legislators who find the courage to keep our schools and other government services open by considering increased taxes. Proposed "Efficiencies" Our legislators are also looking at ways to cut spending at the state level. Senate President Eli Bebout has said, "We don't have a funding problem, we have a spending problem." K-12 schools are in his sights as an area with a spending problem. We find this ironic, given the fact that districts across the state continue to provide high-quality education despite the legislature's failure to provide the court-ordered external cost adjustment to the funding model for the past five years. Even though funding has not kept up with inflation, districts continually improve the quality of the education delivered to students. Doing more with less is hardly a "spending problem." It's our whole education system working hard to make sure our students don't feel the pinch, and get the education they each need and deserve. This effort, however, cannot be sustained if K-12 education is to suffer more cuts. Fifty-five million dollars in cuts in the last biennium, and a possible $80-100 million in the next biennium, means reduced services to our students – plain and simple. At the recent Joint Education Committee meeting, legislation was introduced that would reduce employee health insurance benefits and tie the hands of districts to provide affordable health insurance. WEA President Kathy Vetter successfully helped to kill the bill by pointing out the devastating effect this legislation would have on school districts, towns, and counties. These cuts are not a solution to a spending problem, they are the decimation of a strong educational system we have worked hard over the last ten years to improve. Now we are seeing educational results on the national front, and the legislature is preparing to reverse that success. Our public schools cannot simultaneously suffer cuts of 2.6% a year along with a failure to provide for inflation at a rate of 2.4 % - a net loss of 5% annually to school budgets. If we consider that full-time employees (FTE's) make up around 85% of a district's expenditures, a 5% loss means one-third of the remaining dollars – books, heat, lights, activities, curriculum, you name it, it's gone. WEA-PACE: "18 in 18" So why does this matter to you, our educator members? While it may seem a long road from the state house to the classroom, what happens in our state capitol directly impacts the resources available to you and your students. From custodians to bus drivers to teachers to administrators, the resources provided to schools are being closely scrutinized for potential "efficiencies." Who is in the state legislature matters – Tammy Schroeder, Government Relations Director, tschroeder@wyoea.org Legislative Action