Madison – State Representative Nik Rettinger (R-Mukwonago) joined his colleagues in supporting the 2023-2024 Biennial Budget today on the Assembly floor. The Biennial Budget Act (officially 2023 Senate Bill 70), includes an unprecedented income tax cut, which would collapse two tax brackets into one lower bracket overwhelmingly benefitting the middle class. Furthermore, it lowers Wisconsin’s top tax bracket to a more-competitive 6.50% from its present 7.65% to bring Wisconsin closer with its neighbors such as Illinois and Michigan. In addition, the bill provides a much needed infusion of new money to address the low pay of elected District Attorneys (DA), Assistant District Attorneys (ADA), and other arms of the criminal justice system to ensure the public is kept safe.
Following passage, Rep. Rettinger issued the following statement:
“From the beginning of my interest in serving the hardworking taxpayers of southeastern Wisconsin, I heard over and over again that tax reform, public safety, and quality education options are the major priorities of the 83rd District. When sworn in, I immediately got to work on addressing safety issues in our neighborhoods & schools, co-authored bills fully repealing the Personal Property Tax and reducing income taxes to help alleviated our excessive tax burden. I submitted several budget request to invest in Wisconsin’s courthouse resources, expand school choice, further support great public schools, and significantly cut taxes. Tonight, I proudly say that we’ve delivered on those promises with my motions being integrated into the State Budget we’ve passed tonight”
In addition to the record shattering tax cuts and increases in Public Safety funding, the Biennial Budget Act provides another strong investment in K-12 Education and includes the funding for both the critical Right to Read Act and historic school choice expansion passed last week.
“It is no secret that Wisconsin’s test scores are lagging, particularly in reading. Our budget sets aside $50 million to address the disastrous decision to move away from phonics based learning by implementing The Science of Reading Curriculum to get students back to reading at grade level. This combined with the increase in per pupil aid and the incredible increase to support the choice program, will ensure parents can get their kids a quality education that sets them up for success in life. This was all done while holding the line on property taxes. The Republican-led Joint Committee on Finance did an impressive job crafting a budget that works for Wisconsinites, present and future.