PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — As he kicks off his final year in office, Governor Tony Evers says there is still much work to be done and a lot he wants to accomplish.
Evers held a news conference to lay out his 2026 agenda, with priorities ranging from property tax relief and lower drug costs to school funding and help for farmers.
“I don’t want to say this is my legacy, because I’m not into legacies. But what I am all for is making sure we leave Wisconsin in a better place than what we had when I took office,” said Evers.
According to the governor, Wisconsin is in good financial shape, closing out the last fiscal year with nearly $4 billion in the state’s checking account and another $2 billion in its “rainy day” fund.
While the $1.3 billion in property tax relief the governor proposed in his last biennial budget wasn’t included in the final spending plan, he’s hoping lawmakers will reconsider.
“I urge the Legislature to right this wrong from the recent state budget to pass my plan to give over $1 billion in property tax relief to working families, seniors, veterans and many others across our state. I also wanted the Legislature to address the fact that despite having bipartisan agreement and commitment to increase special education reimbursement rate, 42% available state funding will not cover the percentage for our kids and our schools,” said Evers.
The governor didn’t have specifics on how the tax relief and education funding plans would work, but he believes lawmakers can get it done.
“I’m laying out a whole bunch of things, obviously. Let’s just get as many of those things done as possible. And so, whether it’s $3 billion or a $1 billion, let’s work together like we did last time and get something done.”
Evers would like to eliminate the sales tax on household items. He also wants to crack down on health insurance companies that he says are regularly denying claims, putting the burden back on Wisconsinites.
Evers said, “Wisconsin can’t afford to pick up the whole tab to fix this issue, but we should still be doing everything we can to help make sure Wisconsinites can get the healthcare they need.”
As the backbone of Wisconsin, the governor wants to invest in agriculture. He said President Donald Trump’s tariffs have impacted Wisconsin farmers, adding, “We must do more at the state level to help increase exports for our air and eat and crops and help farmers and producers expand into new markets.”
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a Republican, announced his own goals for 2026. Republican State Rep. David Steffen weighed in about those GOP priorities.
Steffen said, “We’re looking to address property taxes, that is going to be a big part of it. Health care affordability. We are going to run through the tape. We’ve got a lot of important things to protect the taxpayer and touch on the issues that are core to Wisconsin.”
While Evers admits his agenda is ambitious, he’s confident lawmakers on both sides of the aisle can work together to do what’s right for Wisconsin.
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