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Wisconsin technical colleges ask for $168M in state
Wisconsin’s technical college system is seeking $168 million in the next two year budget to address workforce shortages and dual enrollment program needs.
By Jon Styf · 2026-09-04T18:06:43.433Z
The Center Square Wisconsin’s technical colleges are asking for $168 million in the state’s next two year budget, including $59.4 million in general aid for the 2027 29 budget.
The Wisconsin Technical College System currently has 293,000 students at 16 colleges in the state.
The budget request, approved by the board this week, includes $22.6 million for industry sector grants to address workforce shortages and $54.2 million in funding for dual enrollment classes for high schoolers.
“Wisconsin’s technical colleges deliver results for students, employers and taxpayers every day,” WTCS President Layla Merrifield said in a statement. “Every firefighter in the state is certified at a technical college. Every dental hygienist, law enforcement officer, and respiratory therapist is educated at a technical college. All are currently in short supply across Wisconsin, due to the combined effects of retirements and chronic underfunding of the WTCS. The need is urgent, and the time to act is now.”
The technical college budget also includes $23.2 million for adult basic education programs to teach reading, writing, math, English language learning and financial literacy.
This story originally appeared on thecentersquare.com https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article 63d56118 773a 453d b71c ee3b35ba4a6e.html .