Wisconsin Assembly Republicans and local officials gather at the Outagamie County Courthouse to unveil a proposal of new shared revenue plan, April 27, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Republican lawmakers who control the Wisconsin Legislature are working on a plan they hope will help local communities.
Those in the Assembly released a shared revenue proposal to give more state money to local governments Thursday.
That announcement was met with mixed reactions.
Wisconsin Assembly Republicans are hoping to fund local governments with more state aid.
“As Republicans, we believe that the best government is the government that’s close to the people,” said State Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-District 1.
They gathered at the Outagamie County courthouse bright and early Thursday morning to announce the proposal.
“Which sends about $1.5 billion of funding to our local communities,” said State Rep. Terry Katsma, R-District 26. “That includes more than a half a billion of new money to local government for innovation in public safety.”
Democrats pointed out it mirrored the budget proposal Gov. Tony Evers released in February.
In a statement, State Sen. Melissa Agard, D-District 16, says, “Legislative Democrats are united in support of Governor Evers’ budget proposal to send 20% of the state sales tax revenue back to local communities for shared revenue to fund essential local services, resulting in the largest increase in aid to municipalities and counties in decades.”
An Evers spokesperson said she didn’t know enough details of the bill to provide reaction.
“As an independent, it is crucial for our state’s success that we work together in a collaborative, bipartisan manner,” said Jon Doemel, Winnebago County Executive.
Doemel says this bill is something he supports.
“I applaud the Legislature and the governor for coming together in a joint commitment to finding a framework which will reform aids to local government in a way the state has not seen in decades,” said Doemel.
“For many many years, the city of Appleton, we’ve been forced to borrow to maintain our infrastructure,” said Appleton Mayor, Jake Woodford.
Woodford says he’s grateful for the efforts put in to support local communities.
“It’s a recognition that the system that we’ve been operating under as a state is broken,” said Woodford.
The eight first-term Assembly Democrats, including State Rep. Lori Palmeri, D-District 54, gave the following statement:
“We are optimistic that Representatives from both sides of the aisle recognize the harm that has, and continues to occur when we starve local governments of resources.”
The plan also includes $200 million dollars of funding into local law enforcement, fire and EMS, and repeals the personal property tax.
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