JFC Motion Improves a Few Areas, but Leaves Most of the Wisconsin Shares Cuts Intact

Tuesday evening the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) approved an omnibus motion that makes a few improvements in the Department of Children and Families (DCF) budget. However, a new Wisconsin Budget Project Blog post says the committee’s version of the DCF budget is very disappointing in many important respects – including the fact that it doesn’t incorporate the recommendations of the Wisconsin Early Learning Coalition.

A Budget Project Blog post provides a preliminary overview of the good and bad news in the omnibus motion.  It explains that re-estimates of Wisconsin Shares spending freed up some additional money that DCF expects to use for a long-overdue rate increase for child care providers; however, the prospects for that will be diminished if Wisconsin Works spending doesn’t quickly begin dropping by 1% each month.

Jon Peacock