“highlighting the significant fiscal impact that eliminating Act 10 could have on Wisconsin municipalities”
WILL’s new report Back to the Past: The Fiscal Threat of Reversing Act 10 for Local Governments,estimates the fiscal impact for local and county governments to be at least $480 million annually.
The Quotes: WILL Research Director, Will Flanders, stated, “Ending Act 10 would bring about $480 million in new costs for local governments statewide. Localities would be forced to do one of two things, cut crucial services or dramatically increase funding by raising property taxes. Either way, Wisconsinites would be at a loss.”
Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann stated, “Local governments have been granted greater flexibility from Act 10, which has resulted in more efficient delivery of services, pay increases for hard-working public servants, and lower property taxes for residents. I cannot imagine going back.”
About Act 10: In 2011, Wisconsin became a leader in public sector union reform with the passage of the Budget Repair Bill—better known nationally as “Act 10.” The law signed by Governor Scott Walker strongly limited the power of public sector unions to extract more and more money from state taxpayers. Today, likely based on the liberal composition of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, a lawsuit was recently filed that seeks to reverse the landmark legislation.
Report’s Key Findings: The impact of overturning Act 10 on Wisconsin would be quite dramatic. In education, the law allowed school districts to move away from a ‘steps and ladders’ pay system to systems where teachers can be rewarded for their impact on academics. Terminating Act 10 would likely restore the old system where quality played no role in teacher pay.
Much more on Wisconsin Act 10, here.
The Milwaukee pension scandal lead to the rise of Scott Walker and ultimately Act 10.
And:
Chicago public schools: “already the nation’s largest junk-bond issuer”
