MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ) – Northeast Wisconsin residents had a chance Friday to weigh-in on Governor Scott Walker’s proposed two-year state budget.
The legislature’s Joint Finance Committee held its sixth and final hearing of the spring at Marinette High School.
Prior to the event, legislators from both sides of the aisle expressed concerns over transportation funding.
River Hills Republican Senator Alberta Darling says “transportation is the biggest challenge, and everything is on the table right now. We can’t let those major highways not be completed, because it is just going to cost us more. Delays will cost more. Repairs will cost more.”
According to Middleton Democratic Senator Jon Erpenbach “we all know that we need to have a long-term fix and a short-term fix as well. Hopefully we come up with a fair way to pay for the roads, but in the meantime, the governor is either going to have to bite the bullet and realize that we will have to raise a gas tax or fees.”
The committee looks to address a projected $1,000,000,000 shortfall in the transporation budget.
Governor Walker has vowed to veto any budget that includes an increase to the gas tax.
During a Friday stop in Freedom, Walker said “I don’t think we need to raise the gas tax, and I don’t see a broad base vehicle registration fee. I don’t hear anyone talking about that.”
Earlier this month, the Joint Finance Committee said it would scrap the governor’s transportation proposal and start from scratch.
Walker has since stated he would allocate another $100,000,000 for transportation.
One item that does not appear to be in jeopardy is the governor’s proposed $649,000,000 increase in school funding.
Marinette Representative John Nygren says “I don’t see us going back on the governor’s committment to K-12 education.”
Oshkosh Representative Gordon Hintz adds “we heard from schools that this will help them stay afloat. They’re concerned the commitment isn’t going to be there in two years, and this is just more of a re-election budget.”
The committee will now deliberate any potential changes to the budget before it goes to the full House and Senate.
The budget is expected to take effect July 1.
