Madison – Tonight, Governor Tony Evers delivered his 2023-2025 biennial budget address in the Assembly Chambers. Representative Dave Considine (D-Baraboo) issued the following statement on Governor Evers’ budget:
“I am excited to see Governor Evers’ proposed investments in areas such as education, the environment, and mental health. Wisconsinites need and deserve a state government that values quality education, preserving our natural resources, and access to health care. Through Governor Evers’ budget, we can see these values put into action.
“The budget includes a total of $2.6 billion for our public K-12 schools. This proposed investment is historic, as it is the largest increase in general state aid since the revenue limits were imposed. State investment means that districts will not need to rely on referendums. We all want to stop our property taxes from increasing. Fully funding our schools on the state level accomplishes that. The $2.6 billion includes funding for school-based mental health, reading and literacy programs, special education, and universal breakfast and lunch. These investments will help support Wisconsin’s kids, who are the future of our state.
“We also see large investments in our environment in this budget. The threshold for legislative review of Knowles-Nelson Stewardship grants would be doubled to $500,000. This program is successful and shows how much we care about maintaining the state’s natural resources for all to enjoy. Members of the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) have been able to stop these purchases of land via anonymous objection. Governor Evers’ budget would require any member who opposes a stewardship project to state the nature of their objection publicly. This allows for needed accountability. The budget also includes investments in the clean energy workforce, forest regeneration and management, invasive species prevention, clean water initiatives, and more.
“I am encouraged to see a significant investment in our local communities by increasing shared revenue. The budget would allocate 20% of the state’s sales tax revenue to send back to our local communities. As long as I have represented the people of the 81st Assembly District, I have heard from local leaders about how the lack of shared revenue has impacted our communities. Shared revenue can be invested in many ways including EMS funding, local road improvements, and district attorney recruitment and retention. The funding levels that municipalities have received in past years are not sustainable. We must fulfill our obligations to municipalities so that they can meet community needs.
“There are so many investments to be excited about in the proposed 2023-25 biennial budget.
Whether you are excited or not, please share your thoughts on the budget either in the JFC listening sessions or my listening sessions. The dates for these listening sessions will be released soon. I believe this budget would move our state forward so that our state can prosper for many years to come.”
