Conservative
Type 40
If you're going to make these statements, provide a few "facts". That's the least you could do.
Econbrowser: Wisconsin Governor Walker: "We are heading in the right direction."
Tonight I'm happy to report that after three years of losing 150,000 jobs Wisconsin actually added thousands of new jobs in 2011. New business formations are up by over 2 percent. And our unemployment rate is down from a year ago.
In fact, Wisconsins unemployment rate is not only lower than the national average but much better than our neighbors to the south in Illinois.
Letter: Gov. Walker has improved Wisconsin | Fond du Lac Reporter | fdlreporter.com
Back in late 2010, when former Gov. Doyle was quietly packing his bags and leaving Madison, he left us all in a fiscal and moral mess.
The state's business climate had been soured to where job opportunities had tanked. He had people frantically designing a sort-of-fast train which had minimal projected usage, cost $810 million, would need millions in annual subsidies forever and would drop its passengers at the edge of Madison.
He had illegally transferred funds to pet agenda items, but had no plan to repay the $59 million owed to Minnesota. Wisconsin ended the year over $3,000,000,000 in the red!
Some facts listed there include: "For the first time in six years, school tax levies are down;" "budget protects health care coverage for seniors and the neediest families in the state;" "reforms end abusive overtime practices;" and "Tax dollars saved by reforms: $925 million."
Our state motto is "Forward" do we really wish to go back? No! Let's stand with Walker!
Current Reforms and Results
The Kaukauna School District turned a budget deficit into a $2 million surplus by using the tools Governor Scott Walker provided in the Wisconsin budget. The district was able to reduce class sizes and avoid layoffs. They are now creating a merit pay program to reward the best teachers.
The Brown Deer School District used the tools provided in the state budget to balance their budget, and "put children first". Because they are saving on operating expenses, they are now proposing a referendum to pay for long-overdue school renovations.
The Fond du Lac School District made up a budget shortfall of more than $4 million following reforms requiring employees to pay part of their pension contributions.
Tax levy numbers for the 2011-12 school year show the total tax levy is down more than $47 million for K-12 schools.
Over the last five years the tax levy, on average, increased by $181 million each year. When compared to the status quo of the last five years, Governor Walkers reforms are keeping an extra $228 million in Wisconsin property taxpayers pockets.
Governor Scott Walkers budget turned a $3.6 billion state deficit into a surplus.
Under the Governors reforms, for the first time in 12 years, Wisconsin property taxes went down.
Since 1998, property taxes paid by homeowners have risen 43 percent. This year property taxes paid by the typical homeowner went down .4 percent. Without the Governors reforms the average homeowner would have paid an additional $700 over the biennium.
Under Act 10, state employee contributions to pension and health care saved taxpayers more than $308 million.
According to a survey by the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators released by DPI:
New teacher hires outnumber layoffs and non-renewals by 1,799 positions
The three districts with the most teacher layoffs (Milwaukee, Kenosha, and Janesville) didnt adopt the reforms put in place by Governor Walker. Those districts account for 68% of teacher layoffs for the entire state, but only contain 12.8% of Wisconsin students.
75% of districts have the same K-3 class sizes or are decreasing them
67% of districts have the same 4-6 grade class sizes or are decreasing them
78% of districts are keeping student fees the same or decreasing them
92% of districts are keeping sports programs the same or expanding them
According to the Legislative Audit Bureau, state agency overtime totaled $57.1 million in 2010. Governor Walkers reforms end overtime abuse originally facilitated in a collective bargaining agreement in 1975.
For example, the Department of Corrections allowed correctional workers who call in sick to collect overtime if they work a shift on the exact same day.
Cost to taxpayers - $4.8 million in 2010 alone.
This benefit was previously protected by union contract.
In balancing the budget, Governor Walker paid off more than $800 million of debt left from the previous administration.
Feel free to ignore the facts, as you always do, Rderp.