February 10, 2005

Governor Jim Doyle
Office of the Governor
115 East State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702

Dear Governor Doyle:

On behalf of the School Administrators Alliance (SAA) and the more than 3,000 school administrators we represent throughout the state, I would like to thank you for the historic investments in education you proposed in your State Budget Address on Tuesday evening. We greatly appreciate your efforts to fully fund two-thirds of the cost of educating every student in Wisconsin – a more than $850 million investment in our future.

We understand the challenges you faced in closing a projected $1.6 billion state budget deficit without raising general state taxes. That is why we appreciate that your state budget proposal places the state's priority squarely on Wisconsin schools and Wisconsin school children. Not only does restoring two-thirds state funding represent a significant investment in our children, it also helps provide real property tax relief and ease the historic tension between property tax payers and our K-12 public education system.

We recognize that your budget proposal will face tough scrutiny by the legislature over the next 5-6 months. But today, we are especially grateful that you have demonstrated your firm understanding that the state's future economic and civic vitality depends upon our willingness to invest in quality public schools.

Thank you again for your leadership and your continued support of Wisconsin schools and Wisconsin school children.

Sincerely,



John D. Forester
Director of Government Relations

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