Gov. Tony Evers today called for using $1.7 billion of the state’s projected surplus to provide a tax rebate of $150 for each Wisconsin resident and pump millions more into education.
The guv’s call comes on the heels of the Legislative Fiscal Bureau projecting the state will finish the 2021-23 biennium with a $3.8 billion surplus. That’s $2.8 billion more than expected just a few months ago.
GOP legislative leaders didn’t immediately return calls seeking comment on the guv’s proposal. Earlier this week, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, told WisPolitics he prefers to wait until next session to decide how to use the surplus money, while Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, has said the funds will be used for a “massive tax cut.” Republicans want to wait until next session to use the money, in part, because they’re hoping the GOP nominee wins the guv’s race this fall.
The guv said he hasn’t heard any good reasons to sit on the money.
“There sure as hell aren’t excuses for failing to help families afford rising costs, for refusing to help reduce barriers to employment, and for letting our kids and schools lose out on more than $2 billion,” Evers said.
The tax cut package includes:
* $815.6 million for the rebates for Wisconsin residents. The rebates would be $150 per person, meaning a family of four would receive $600.
* $102.5 million for a Caregiver Tax Credit to cover expenses for a family caregiver to assist a family member.
* $29.3 million for a Child and Independent Care Credit, which would increase the nonrefundable credit match from 50 to 100 percent.
The guv is also calling for putting an additional $611 million into K-12 education, $111 million into the UW System and $28 million for the technical college system.
“We have the resources to make sure that every family and every community is doing just as well as our state’s economy,” Evers said.
