Wisconsin Budget 2023-25
Wisconsin’s biennial budget negotiations concluded on July 5, when Gov. Tony Evers signed the budget the Wisconsin Legislature sent him, after making substantial alterations using his powerful partial veto authority. 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.
State leaders and educators urge lawmakers to fund Office of School Safety
State leaders, educators and other stakeholders are making a final push to persuade Republican lawmakers to fully fund the Office of School Safety (OSS) ahead of expected floor sessions later this week. “Without the funding, in the months ahead we’re going to have to have some really difficult conversations with schools around the state about […]
With his last budget behind him, Rep. Goyke gets a teasing with a side of gratitude
Rep. Tip McGuire (D-Kenosha) started off his comments about state employee pay during Thursday night’s budget committee meeting with a bit of a tribute to his colleague Rep. Evan Goyke’s unique style of debate. “My dad used to tell me that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” McGuire said. “And today I’d just like […]
JFC completes work with cuts to income taxes and UW budget, increases in state employee pay
The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) voted to cut state income taxes by $3.5 billion and reduce the University of Wisconsin system budget while raising pay for state employees as lawmakers wrapped up their work on the 2023-25 state budget Thursday. The committee voted 12-4 along party lines to recommend the budget for approval by the […]
For most taxpayers, tax-cut benefit will fall below the average savings cited by GOP
Republican leaders of the Joint Finance Committee are calling the tax proposal they passed Thursday evening a “middle class tax cut” that will provide an average savings of $573 a year to Wisconsin taxpayers. Fewer than 20% of state tax filers will see that high a tax break, however, according to calculations from the Wisconsin […]
Child care providers warn that loss of additional funding will drive up costs, force many to close
Mykenzie Ritschard of New Glarus had not signed up to speak at Tuesday’s rally in support of funding Child Care Counts, funding that Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee eliminated last week without explanation. But when organizer and child care provider Corrine Hendrickson opened up the podium to whoever wanted to speak, Ritschard fought through […]
Evers signs shared revenue and school choice voucher funding legislation
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed legislation on Tuesday that increases local government funding, provides Milwaukee with a path to address its funding crisis, and requires several controversial policy changes for local governments across the state. Evers also signed another bill that was negotiated alongside the local government funding bill, increasing school districts’ revenue limits and […]
Budget committee gets mixed response to health care, child welfare decisions
This report has been updated. Working into the early hours of Friday morning, Republicans on the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC) rejected proposals to put $340 million in the state budget over the next two years to continue a child care subsidy program that began with federal pandemic relief money. In its place, they proposed […]
Democrats call for Child Care Counts funding ahead of Thursday budget meeting
Wisconsin Democrats and advocates demanded Thursday morning that Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee include $340 million in the budget to fund the Child Care Counts program ahead of the committee meeting later in the day. The Child Care Counts program, which provides assistance to child care providers to help them increase pay for their […]
Bills to increase funding for local government and choice schools pass Legislature
Wisconsin’s Legislature passed a bill that will increase state aid to local government and allow Milwaukee to raise its local sales tax on Wednesday night, following months of negotiations that culminated in a deal struck between Republican leaders and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. As a part of that deal, lawmakers passed another bill that would […]
Clashes erupt with Republican attacks on diversity programs in government and at UW
A tenuous truce between Republicans and Democrats in the state Capitol was shaken Tuesday in a clash over policies aimed at fostering stronger and more welcoming communities. The Associated Press reported around midday Tuesday that Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said the Legislature’s budget committee would cut $32 million from the University of Wisconsin budget […]
Will the ‘education governor’ go along with GOP funds transfer from public to private schools?
As Republicans advanced their bills to dramatically increase taxpayer funding for private schools during a flurry of overlapping legislative hearings Tuesday, school choice advocates were giddy. Busloads of private school parents, staff and students wearing green T-shirts with the words “Equal funding for ALL KIDS” emblazoned on the back jammed hearing rooms in the Capitol. […]
Revenue, education and child care measures will make for a climactic state budget week
This week is shaping up to be the most consequential period in constructing the state’s two-year budget as the Legislature’s budget committee commits to funding plans for schools, highways, child care and public health. In addition to the budget, Tuesday the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) will vote on two other bills to move ahead the […]
Wisconsin Budget 2023-25
Wisconsin’s biennial budget negotiations concluded on July 5, when Gov. Tony Evers signed the budget the Wisconsin Legislature sent him, after making substantial alterations using his powerful partial veto authority. 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 increased spending by 23%, cut income taxes by 10% for four out of five Wisconsin taxpayers and included 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 were among the other priorities that received increased funding in Evers’ budget.
Republican legislative leaders were 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 said they intended 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 heard from agency heads and other experts throughout the spring and early summer. When the committee finished its work, the Legislature voted on a spending plan and sent it to Evers for his signature or veto. The Wisconsin governor also had 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 was July 1.
Evers signed the budget with partial vetoes
Wisconsin’s biennial budget negotiations concluded on July 5, when Gov. Tony Evers signed the budget the Wisconsin Legislature sent him, after making substantial alterations using his powerful partial veto authority.