Contact: Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (608) 266-0610
MADISON – After a marathon floor session lasting approximately 11 hours, Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek) gave approval to the 2017-2019 state budget that passed the Assembly late Wednesday evening. The budget is now in the Senate where it is expected to be considered Friday morning.
“The last couple of budgets included significant reforms that have made it possible to ensure that priority areas such as education, workforce development and health services receive additional funding in this budget,” said Rodriguez. “We put a great deal of time and thought in this budget and the result is a product we can all be proud of.”
The new spending plan is highlighted by a $639 million boost to K-12 education in addition to more funding for local roads and property taxes that are lower than in 2014. Additionally, the state portion of the property tax will be eliminated under this budget.
“In this budget we made sure our schools are taken care of financially with added funding. We also guaranteed that taxes will be lower in this budget than in the last and our local roads will receive the funding they need,” said Rodriguez.
The K-12 funding comes primarily in categorical aid to school districts including $200 per pupil in the first year and $204 in the second year of the budget, in addition to what schools currently receive based on the previous budget.
The transportation portion of the budget includes new oversight and accountability measures for the Department of Transportation and the lowest level of bonding in more than a decade.
“Today, we proved once again that we can fund our priorities by being fiscally responsible and protecting taxpayers. I’m proud to support this budget,” concluded Rodriguez.