MONROE - Things will be different in the Assembly when Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, begins his third term Jan. 5.
The biggest change is that Democrats, not Republicans, will be in the majority. For Davis, that means he no longer will serve as chairman of the Assembly's Education Committee.
Davis' efforts earlier this year as committee chairman helped keep virtual schools available to Wisconsin families. Davis said he has a lot to offer as a member of the Education Committee and hopes the next Assembly Speaker, Rep. Michael Sheridan, D-Janesville, will appoint him.
However, Davis won't know what assignments he will have until after Sheridan determines which committees will be created for the next term. After the committees are created, the minority leader will appoint representatives to each committee.
Even if he's not a member of the education committee, Davis still expects to make a difference in Madison.
"I still have the ability to propose legislation and work with others to pass legislation," he said. "I can still introduce bills and raise awareness."
Davis said education and how to fund schools in Wisconsin will be a hot topic in the next term. Democrats, he said, have said they would end the Qualified Economic Offer school districts can offer teachers during wage and benefits negotiations. That could cause problems for school districts if the districts still have to stay within the approximately 2 percent revenue increase caps.
Salaries and benefits account for about 80 to 85 percent of school budgets, Davis said. If the QEO is eliminated, and schools lose some of their bargaining power with employees, districts would be increasingly forced to ask voters for more property tax revenue, Davis predicted. Either that, or the Legislature will have to raise the revenue cap for districts.
"That would mean higher property taxes," Davis said.
Higher taxes is something he wants to avoid, especially with the tough economic times, Davis said.
The tight economic situation will also have an affect on the state budget. The Legislature will go into budget negotiations with a $5.4 billion deficit. State law requires a balanced budget.
Everyone is in the same situation, he said, homeowners and businesses are trying to save money anywhere they can. Everyone is facing tighter budgets. However, the state still needs to provide services to residents.
"We need to work together. Both Republicans and Democrats need to work together," he said. "Some of the issues aren't partisan. People in my district want us to work together on quality of life issues such as education."
Davis said there must be plans to get the state's economy moving again.
"When Wisconsin families do well, Wisconsin does well," he said.
As the state continues to wrestle with its budget, local municipalities will have to continue to try to meet their responsibilities. Several counties have asked the Legislature to lift the 2 percent spending cap as expenses such as salaries and benefits and other expenses continue to increase. Green County, for example, was forced to exceed its winter maintenance budget this year due to heavy snowfalls. Winter maintenance is one budget area which the county can't control.
Davis said he understands the county's concern, and said he hopes there will be some federal dollars that come to the state for such things as infrastructure and emergency assistance.
"Bridges and roads are safety and commercial issues," he said.
Over the past couple of years there has been talk of expanding Wisconsin 11 to four lanes between Dubuque and Janesville. Davis said available money will have an impact on the project, but hopes to see grassroots support from municipalities and businesses to encourage the state to expand the highway. He hopes the fact that Sheridan is from Janesville also helps, he added.
The biggest change is that Democrats, not Republicans, will be in the majority. For Davis, that means he no longer will serve as chairman of the Assembly's Education Committee.
Davis' efforts earlier this year as committee chairman helped keep virtual schools available to Wisconsin families. Davis said he has a lot to offer as a member of the Education Committee and hopes the next Assembly Speaker, Rep. Michael Sheridan, D-Janesville, will appoint him.
However, Davis won't know what assignments he will have until after Sheridan determines which committees will be created for the next term. After the committees are created, the minority leader will appoint representatives to each committee.
Even if he's not a member of the education committee, Davis still expects to make a difference in Madison.
"I still have the ability to propose legislation and work with others to pass legislation," he said. "I can still introduce bills and raise awareness."
Davis said education and how to fund schools in Wisconsin will be a hot topic in the next term. Democrats, he said, have said they would end the Qualified Economic Offer school districts can offer teachers during wage and benefits negotiations. That could cause problems for school districts if the districts still have to stay within the approximately 2 percent revenue increase caps.
Salaries and benefits account for about 80 to 85 percent of school budgets, Davis said. If the QEO is eliminated, and schools lose some of their bargaining power with employees, districts would be increasingly forced to ask voters for more property tax revenue, Davis predicted. Either that, or the Legislature will have to raise the revenue cap for districts.
"That would mean higher property taxes," Davis said.
Higher taxes is something he wants to avoid, especially with the tough economic times, Davis said.
The tight economic situation will also have an affect on the state budget. The Legislature will go into budget negotiations with a $5.4 billion deficit. State law requires a balanced budget.
Everyone is in the same situation, he said, homeowners and businesses are trying to save money anywhere they can. Everyone is facing tighter budgets. However, the state still needs to provide services to residents.
"We need to work together. Both Republicans and Democrats need to work together," he said. "Some of the issues aren't partisan. People in my district want us to work together on quality of life issues such as education."
Davis said there must be plans to get the state's economy moving again.
"When Wisconsin families do well, Wisconsin does well," he said.
As the state continues to wrestle with its budget, local municipalities will have to continue to try to meet their responsibilities. Several counties have asked the Legislature to lift the 2 percent spending cap as expenses such as salaries and benefits and other expenses continue to increase. Green County, for example, was forced to exceed its winter maintenance budget this year due to heavy snowfalls. Winter maintenance is one budget area which the county can't control.
Davis said he understands the county's concern, and said he hopes there will be some federal dollars that come to the state for such things as infrastructure and emergency assistance.
"Bridges and roads are safety and commercial issues," he said.
Over the past couple of years there has been talk of expanding Wisconsin 11 to four lanes between Dubuque and Janesville. Davis said available money will have an impact on the project, but hopes to see grassroots support from municipalities and businesses to encourage the state to expand the highway. He hopes the fact that Sheridan is from Janesville also helps, he added.