Wisconsin Budget 2023-25
Wisconsin’s biennial budget negotiations are underway between Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican legislative leaders. Wisconsin Examiner reporters bring you the details, breaking down the numbers and examining the proposals for spending the state’s record-breaking surplus. Follow along as we report on the budget process, follow the money and examine what it means for state residents with political stories, graphics, and on-the-ground reporting both inside the Capitol and out in communities around the state.
JFC Democrats host budget roundtable discussion in Milwaukee
Understaffed child care centers, Milwaukee’s looming financial crisis and needed investments in public education and the UW system are a few of the issues about 40 Wisconsinites brought to Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) Monday morning. Sens. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) and Kelda Roys (D-Madison) and Reps. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) and Tip McGuire (D-Kenosha) […]
Joint Finance Committee announces budget listening sessions
Members of Wisconsin’s Joint Finance Committee will travel across the state throughout April to hear from residents about what they’d like to see included in the next two-year budget. Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) and Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), co-chairs of the powerful committee, announced details of four listening sessions in a statement yesterday. […]
Analysis examines potential impacts of Evers budget proposal, GOP alternatives
Gov. Tony Evers’ proposed 2023-25 state budget shifts more of the cost for building and repairing roads and other transportation projects to general taxes as growth is stalling in the state’s transportation fund, according to a new analysis. The Wisconsin Policy Forum’s budget analysis also highlights the governor’s proposed boosts to education funding, including for […]
Democrats highlight Evers’ free school meals budget proposal
Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Jill Underly and Democratic lawmakers renewed calls on Monday for Wisconsin to provide free school meals to all students, which they say would improve student wellbeing and academic outcomes, ease financial burdens for families and support Wisconsin’s local economies. Underly, state lawmakers and other stakeholders highlighted the proposal along with two […]
Proposed budget ties Medicaid expansion to better pay for health providers
The Evers administration is proposing to increase Medicaid reimbursement to hospitals and other health care providers in the 2023-25 budget — but only if Wisconsin accepts the federally subsidized expansion of Medicaid that Republican lawmakers have repeatedly rejected over the last decade. The administration plans to meet with hospital industry executives in the coming weeks […]
Budget committee co-chairs on potential compromise and Evers’ proposals
The Republican co-chairs of Wisconsin’s powerful Joint Finance Committee (JFC) discussed potential areas for compromise in the upcoming two-year budget, while casting doubt on several of Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposals on Tuesday. Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) and Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) will spend the next several months leading Wisconsin’s budget writing process. […]
What’s in the Evers budget tax proposals?
In pushing back last week on Gov. Tony Evers’ new 2023-25 budget proposal, Republican lawmakers claimed it raises taxes — but left out of their statements who would bear those increases. For the average Wisconsinite, “this is not a tax increase budget, it’s a tax cut budget,” said Department of Revenue (DOR) Secretary Peter Barca […]
Evers unveils spending plan that boosts public schools, water cleanup, child care and cuts taxes
After parceling out tidbits over the last two weeks, Gov. Tony Evers unveiled a proposed 2023-25 state budget Wednesday night that overall increases spending by 23%, cuts income taxes by 10% for four out of five Wisconsin taxpayers, includes a record increase for public education and features proposals touching on virtually every major state program. […]
Evers unveils voting rights provisions in budget proposal
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers unveiled a number of proposals to make voting easier as part of his 2023-25 budget, including a program to automatically register people to vote when they get a driver’s license. The automatic registration, and other voting-related proposals Evers announced, have previously been rejected by Republicans in control of the committee that […]
Small business owners hit state Capitol with to-do list for the next budget
About 70 small business owners roamed the state Capitol Monday, meeting with lawmakers and staff members to emphasize their priorities in the next Wisconsin budget. At the top of their list: bolstering state funding for child care, expanding the state’s Medicaid program according to federal guidelines and creating a state-backed paid family leave program that […]
Assembly leaders discuss visions for budget surplus
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and Rep. Kalan Haywood (D-Milwaukee) spoke about their priorities for the state’s projected $6 billion budget surplus at an online panel hosted by the Wisconsin Policy Forum Friday. The discussion follows the nonpartisan research organization’s report showing that Wisconsin is in a better position this year to make new commitments […]
Wisconsin Budget 2023-25
Wisconsin’s biennial budget negotiations are underway between Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican legislative leaders. Wisconsin Examiner reporters bring you the details, breaking down the numbers and examining the proposals for spending the state’s record-breaking surplus. Follow along as we report on the budget process, follow the money and examine what it means for state residents with political stories, graphics, and on-the-ground reporting both inside the Capitol and out in communities around the state.
PATH TO A BUDGET
Gov. Evers’ proposal
On Feb. 15, 2023, Gov. Tony Evers delivered his biennial budget address and released his plan for the state’s next two-year budget.
Budget skepticism
Evers’ proposed budget increases spending by 23%, cuts income taxes by 10% for four out of five Wisconsin taxpayers and includes a record increase for public education, $2.6 billion, which the governor touted as “the largest increase in K-12 schools and education in state history.” Transportation, broadband, child care, health care and PFAS cleanup are among the other priorities that receive increased funding in Evers’ budget.
Republican legislative leaders have been quick to express skepticism about Evers’ plan. While they said there were some areas where they anticipate a bipartisan deal can be made, the leaders of the Legislature’s powerful Joint Finance Committee have said they intend to start from scratch and build their own version of the budget, rather than working from Evers’ plan.
The Joint Finance Committee
The Joint Finance Committee will hear from agency heads and other experts throughout the spring and early summer. When the committee finishes its work, the Legislature will vote on a spending plan and send it to Evers for his signature or veto. The Wisconsin governor also has the power to partially veto legislation. In the last budget negotiation, Evers managed to increase spending on schools using his partial veto pen. The deadline for completing the new budget is July 1.
