Contact: Representative Cindi Duchow
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Madison, WI – State Representative Cindi Duchow (R-Delafield) joined her colleagues in approving the 2017-19 state budget in the Wisconsin State Assembly. The budget protects taxpayers while also giving the largest investment to K-12 schools in state history.
“I am proud to vote for this state budget, which puts families and children first,” said Rep. Duchow. “We are putting an additional $639 million into Wisconsin’s classrooms while also giving parents more options to find schools that work best for their children and ultimately, their family.”
The approved budget also eliminates the entire state tax on property tax bills, lowering property taxes to below 2014 levels as well as a partial repeal of the personal property tax which will help small businesses.
“The people of Wisconsin work hard every day for their families and deserve to keep more of what they make,” said Rep. Duchow. “This budget prioritizes families and small businesses by cutting taxes.”
Also within the two-year budget is funding which gives more opportunities for Wisconsinites to succeed in new careers as well as for college students to have more access to higher education. More money will be put into worker training programs and the UW System tuition freeze will remain for another two years. The tuition freeze has saved the average student more than $6,000 over the last four years.
“We need to ensure we invest in our future in order to maintain a strong state economy,” said Rep. Duchow. “By increasing financial aid, worker training grants, career and technical education grants, and fast forward grants, we are providing students with the tools they need to succeed at an affordable cost.”
In order to be fiscally responsible, the state is decreasing transportation bonding and providing funding only for what can be paid for. This transportation budget actually has the lowest bonding in more than a decade. New accountability and oversight measures are also being put in place to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent appropriately.
“Overall, this state budget is a step in the right direction to increase accountability of the DOT and reduce our reliance on bonding,” said Rep Duchow. “It is my job as a state representative to be a good steward of taxpayers’ dollars. This is a very fiscally responsible budget and I look forward to continuing to find ways to reduce the size of government and help Wisconsin families keep more of what they earn.”
The budget bill will now head to the state Senate for consideration before going to Governor Walker to be signed into law.