Here’s why your MATC taxes are so high.
Today the Legislative Audit Bureau released an audit analyzing the personnel policies and practices of technical colleges around the state.
From a press release issued today by the co-chairs of the Legislature’s Joint Audit Committee, state Senator Jim Sullivan and state Representative Sue Jeskewitz:
Today, the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) released its evaluation of personnel policies and practices used by the 16 campuses of the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS). The 16 technical college districts are local units of government, governed by locally appointed boards. Each is responsible for establishing compensation levels, fringe benefits, and personnel policies.These boards are appointed, not elected. They can and do jack up your taxes and you have no recourse because there’s no accountability. Back to the press release:
In its comprehensive report, LAB evaluated employee compensation and fringe benefits, use and reporting of leave time, procurement of consulting services, and the use of settlement agreements to resolve personnel issues.
LAB found that the average base salaries of WTCS faculty are among the highest reported nationally. Their average annual earnings also exceeded the average annual earnings of full-time faculty at the two-year University of Wisconsin (UW) Colleges by approximately $22,000. When LAB compared full-time faculty earnings in the ten technical college districts that also contain a four-year UW System institution, they found that in 7 of the 10 districts, average earnings were higher for WTCS faculty than for UW System facultyThat explains in part why MATC takes such a big chunk of your taxes.
LAB reports that, under new accounting rules, all public employers will be required to more fully disclose the costs of non-pension post-retirement benefits. Of the 16 technical college districts, 13 have estimated their benefit liabilities, which range from $3.3 million for the Northeast district to $228.6 million for the Milwaukee Area district. LAB notes that the magnitude of Milwaukee Area’s liability suggests the district could be challenged to meet its future financial obligations without significantly increasing revenues or significantly reducing its operating budget.MATC, significantly reduce their operating budget? When hell freezes over. MATC will opt, instead, to increase revenues...in other words, raise taxes.
Remember, your MATC taxes are on top of everything else: city, school, county, state, and sewer. The prospect of our tax climate improving in the near future isn’t very promising.
That’s something to think about when you vote on April 3.
And don't forget:
THE VOTE IS NO APRIL 3
