LTE – Terry Nichols – 4-1-2020
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Funding of the Technical College System needs to go to the state level like the UW System
For too long we have been taxed due to the antiquated funding statutes of the Technical College System. (WTCS). All public higher education belongs at the state level. The UW System answers to the Governor and the Legislature. This is representative democracy at its best. The Governor and the Legislature are elected by the voters of this state. Not so with the 16 tech districts in this state. These 16 tech district boards are appointed, not elected, this is not a representative democracy. These appointed boards can borrow millions every year with the local property taxpayers in their respective districts getting the tab. That folks, is taxation without representation. These antiquated funding statutes were created in the late 60s when my generation was early in our careers or fighting for our country in the Viet Nam War like myself. Today many of us are retired seniors living on fixed incomes and trying to stay in our homes we worked so hard for in our working lives. The only way this will change in Madison is demanding our elected officials we send to Madison represent all their constituents. I’m finding that our local elected officials are having a hard time doing the right thing, the fair thing, and showing their respect to all their constituents. Partisan politics seems to be like a disease that won’t go away in Madison and has been like this for the past 16 years that I’ve been trying to get their attention. When Chippewa Valley Tech declared they were having a referendum and the appointed board passed it, I knew it was time to push for the funding of the WTCS to the state level. It is time for the partisan politics in Madison to cease. When seniors and others, living on fixed incomes in this state are being ignored by local elected officials everywhere in this state something needs to change. The bureaucrats in Madison can’t even support more Medicaid dollars for the crisis we are facing currently. CVTC currently has 28 million in debt. The only other tech college that had a passed referendum was Western Tech College out of LaCrosse, WI. An email from me to the VP of Finance and Operations at Western also was enlightening as well. Western currently has128 million in debt. When I ask why so high, he said that it stems back to 2012 when Western had an 80 million dollar passed referendum. If CVTC’s 48,8-million-dollar referendum passes, it will take 21 years to pay off. Also, the CVTC appointed board may borrow millions more during that payoff of 21 years. Therefore, the funding of the WTCS needs to go to the state level like the funding of the UW System. The citizens of this state elect the Governor and the Legislature, that is representative democracy. All voters in Wisconsin should expect stewardship, accountability, and transparency.
Terry Nichols
Colfax, WI