Gov. Tony Evers listens to Wisconsinites' concerns during a state budget listening session at UW-Green Bay Dec. 20, 2022. PC: Fox 11 Online
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Later this week, Governor Tony Evers will unveil where he wants your tax dollars to go in the state’s next two year budget.
We already have a rough idea of what Governor Tony Evers will be talking about when he unveils his biennial budget proposal.
A key talking point will be centered around his declaration of 2025 being the “Year of the Kid.”
“We’re hoping to get the legislature to understand how important childcare in general is,” said Evers on Feb. 12 while speaking to the media.
Evers has already announced his plan to provide more than $500 million to support childcare for working families, with the vast majority of that money going toward supporting the state’s Child Care Counts Program.
“It’s my hope that we’ll be able to get something done in this next budget to continue Child Care Counts,” said Evers.
He also wants nearly $300 million to go toward mental health support in schools.
Another $145 million will be proposed to address PFAS contamination.
Both sides in the legislature have maintained a top priority is tax cuts. Democratic Assemblywoman Lee Snodgrass says they should be fiscally responsible and sustainable.
“I’m hopeful that my Republican colleagues will realize that the, you know, top one and two percent of the state really don’t need the tax cut that some of the proposals they’ve had in the past are out there. We need to look at, you know, the working class, working families who are really kind of struggling to make ends meet,” said Snodgrass, D-Appleton.
For Republican David Steffen, bringing tax relief to Wisconsinites is a non-negotiable in the budget, as the state has a more than $4.5 billion surplus.
“I am fully expecting that we will be providing tax cut options to the Democrats and Governor Evers that is more in line with what they’re looking at,” said Steffen.
Additional funding for education is also expected to be highlighted Tuesday.
State Schools Superintendent Jill Underly has asked for more than $4 billion to be spent on K-12 schools.
And at the higher education level, the UW system is pushing for $855 million in additional support.
After the Governor’s budget pitch — the legislature will likely spend months working to approve a budget for the next biennium.
Lawmakers are hopeful work will be completed by July, as there will likely be plenty of discussions and room for compromise — with a slimmer GOP majority than in previous budget cycles.
“Republicans may have majority in Joint Finance (committee) and of course that’s going to be where the budget process ends up, but then also realize they have to answer to voters who said ‘we’ve elected you to do the work of the people and to focus on real issues,” said Snodgrass.
“If the Governor is willing to agree to some level of tax cuts, I believe we can hit a July 4th signing date,” said Steffen.
What will actually be passed and included in the budget remains a mystery and Tuesday will be the first step in paving the way forward.
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