Rep. Kerkman (608) 266-2530

Madison – Representative Samantha Kerkman (R-Salem Lakes) offered her perspective on the WISCONSIN budget following the vote in the State Assembly today.

“The budget that the Assembly amended today is a good compromise that invests in roads, schools, water quality, and healthcare while budgeting within our means,” Representative Kerkman said. “By protecting the priorities that my constituents wanted most, we were able to balance the budget, prevent tax increases, and deliver a middle class tax cut. We stretched the money that the state already has to do the most for Wisconsin without breaking the bank.”

The Assembly budget includes nearly $1 billion investment in roads and bridges, $1 billion in capital projects for UW to renovate and maintain buildings, and $1.6 billion of increased funding for healthcare access and care. It also increased K-12 spending to a record $12.3 billion which grows special education funding by nearly $100 million, doubles student mental health service grants, and increases per pupil aid by over $600 for the biennium—money that school districts can invest in their best teachers and staff.

“This budget makes impressive healthcare investments,” Kerkman said. “We expanded nursing home reimbursement rates by over $30 million and $27 million more funding for direct caregivers in Family Care – that’s nearly $35 million more than Governor Evers was willing to dedicate to these needs. Also under the budget we passed today, personal care worker rates receive a $37 million raise, boosting that rate to $18.24 per hour. We also stepped up Children and Family Aids by providing $30.5 million in for resources to better support children impacted by the drug and substance abuse epidemic.”

“I’m happy to have passed the WISCONSIN budget that makes responsible, common-sense changes to Governor Evers’ proposal which protect the priorities and pocketbooks of people all across the state.”

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