The exterior dome of the Wisconsin state Capitol is seen in Madison Feb. 15, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — We’re only a few days away from the soft deadline for Wisconsin’s next biennial budget.
With the June 30 deadline fast approaching, the Joint Finance Committee has a laundry list of items it plans to take action on Friday morning as time runs out.
“It’s like your kid hasn’t done any work all school year and just realized the final exam is tomorrow. That’s kind of what that looks like, and they can’t do anything but pencil whip,” State Senator Jamie Wall, D-Green Bay, said.
Wall said there’s been a lot of discussion between Democratic Governor Tony Evers and legislative Republicans, especially around K-12 schools, the Universities of Wisconsin system, child care and tax cuts.
“What comes out from those discussions with the governor probably won’t be a great budget, but it might be the best budget we can reasonably expect under these political circumstances,” Wall said.
Wall wants to see tax cuts for everyone, not just the wealthy. Locally, he would like to see something in the budget for the closing of Green Bay Correctional Institution.
State Representative David Steffen, R-Howard, agrees.
“It’s my hope that this budget will include at least some planning money, as well as a firm decommission date, and that’s my goal,” Steffen said.
Steffen believes the biggest debate that’s been slowing down the budget process is Republicans’ tax cuts and Evers’ spending. He said it’s still a fluid situation, given Wisconsin’s identity as a purple state.
“It is very difficult to get so many legislators and the governor all on the same page in regard to state budget, and especially when the margins of control in both the Assembly and Senate are so slim,” Steffen said.
Both Steffen and Wall agree something needs to be done about child care, especially as the Childcare Counts Program is set to end June 30.
They think completing the budget by the June 30 deadline is unlikely, but expect to see a new budget very soon.
“Our hope is to be on the floor before the 4th of July to pass it and send it to the governor,” Steffen said.
If a new deal isn’t reached by the end of the month, current spending levels will continue until an agreement happens.
“There’s no great harm if we’re three days late,” Wall said.
Once a new budget is passed, it will be sent to Evers’ desk.
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