MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered the Democratic Radio Address on the legislation signed earlier this week providing historic shared revenue increases for local communities, including a 20 percent increase in support to most municipalities statewide. This historic bipartisan compromise also includes more than $1 billion that can be used for our kids in the classroom and increasing the low revenue ceiling by $1,000 per student while continuing to support school-based mental health services and setting aside funding to improve literacy and reading outcomes across Wisconsin. More information on this historic bipartisan compromise can be found here.
Hey there, folks. Governor Tony Evers here.
This week, I signed key portions of our bipartisan compromise on shared revenue to provide historic increases in state support for our local communities and make historic investments in our kids and K-12 schools.
Shared revenue is one of the most significant sources of funding provided by the state to local governments.
With shared revenue being held stagnant for the last decade, local partners in every corner of our state have been forced to make impossible decisions about what essential services to fund—having to choose between paying for first responders, addressing PFAS, fixing the roads, and other critical priorities that affect the health, safety, and well-being of Wisconsinites everywhere.
For far too long, our local communities have been forced to do more with less. Our local partners should have the resources they need to meet basic and unique needs alike. Period.
That’s why our bipartisan compromise includes at least a 20 percent increase in support to most municipalities statewide.
Additionally, I’m proud that our bipartisan compromise will not only mean historic increases in support for our local communities but historic investments in our kids and schools across Wisconsin, too.
I secured $1 billion in spendable revenue for our K-12 schools and education, which means we’re finally going to get our schools much-needed resources that can be used for our kids in our classrooms across Wisconsin—including $30 million for school-based mental health support and $50 million to help improve literacy and reading outcomes for our kids statewide.
Folks, this is great news for our kids, our families, and our communities—this is a win for Wisconsin.
To me, increasing shared revenue has always been about doing the right thing.
I’m proud of this bipartisan effort, and as we continue our work on the state budget, we’ll keep working to build on this historic accomplishment to keep doing the right thing for our state.
Thank you.
An online version of this release is available here.