GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Wisconsin is one of 11 states that did not have a budget in-place by its July first deadline.
In some states, like New Jersey, missing the budget deadline led to the closure of state parks and beaches.
Although Wisconsin lawmakers failed to pass a budget on time, Joint Finance Committee Co-Chair, Representative John Nygren tells WLUK he isn’t too concerned.
“The average citizen is not going to notice anything different for missing the July 1st deadline, everything is going to go on as usual. We’re not the federal government where things stop, we’re not like most states where things will stop. You’ll still see the continued services in Wisconsin.”
Wisconsin was not alone in missing a budget deadline.
In fact, 11 states missed budget deadlines.
However, unlike Wisconsin, state’s like Maine and New Jersey shutdown government operations.
In Illinois, although the state hasn’t shut down, it started its third year without a budget.
The state is now running on an estimated $6 billion deficit.
“Looking at what is happening in other states, we’re far above the curve here in Wisconsin.” said Nygren.
Nygren added the Badger state will continue pay for services from 2015-2017 budget.
“Maybe because it continues, there is not that pressure to get it done on both sides, in the Senate and the Assembly that there might be in other states.”
Democratic State Representative Gordon Hintz recently told WLUK while he wasn’t worried about the missed deadline, he wants Republicans to reach a budget agreement soon.
“I’d rather have a better budget than an on-time budget and if we’re fighting about education you have to ask why.”
Nygren says while the Senate and Assembly are close to an agreement on education funding, transportation continues to be the sticking point.
The Senate wants to borrow $850 million dollars to pay for road projects, the Assembly thinks that is too much.
Nygren said he still hopeful a budget will be passed in the middle of the month.
