MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, in celebration of National Ice Cream Month, this week, hosted a statewide “Ice Cream Town Hall” tour. Throughout the week, the governor traveled across the state to local ice cream parlors, drive ins, and scoop shops to meet with local leaders and community members to hear directly from Wisconsinites about the issues they care about, discuss measures included in the pro-kid, bipartisan biennial state budget that Gov. Evers signed into law last month to support Wisconsin kids, families, and communities, and to listen to concerns about the impacts of recent federal funding cuts to critical programs Wisconsinites depend on everyday.
The governor’s visits come as he declared July 2025 National Ice Cream Month in Wisconsin, in accordance with national celebrations. As America’s Dairyland and the home of the first ice cream sundae in Two Rivers, Wisconsin’s dairy industry is not only a huge part of the state’s culture but also an economic powerhouse for the state, which alone contributes $52.8 billion to Wisconsin’s economy each year. According to Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, the state boasts over 46 licensed ice cream plants across the state. Together, these plants contribute to the roughly 19 pounds, or about four gallons, of ice cream that the average American eats each year, as reported by the International Dairy Foods Association. In celebration of the many dairy farmers, producers, processors, and retailers in the state, Gov. Evers declared July 2025 as “National Ice Cream Month” and July 20, 2025, as “National Ice Cream Day.” The governor’s National Ice Cream Month and National Ice Cream Day proclamation is available here.
“Nothing brings folks together like a sweet treat, and I was excited to join Wisconsinites across our state to discuss issues that are important to them and how our bipartisan, pro-kid budget will work for our kids, families, and communities statewide,” said Gov. Evers. “It was a cherry on top for local ice cream parlors to open their doors for us and to share their incredible sweets and eats. The best part of my job as governor is getting out to meet Wisconsinites where they’re at to hear about the issues that matter most to them, and I’m incredibly grateful to all of the folks who came out and joined us this week.”
The governor’s town halls come as Wisconsinites are worried about losing access to critical basic needs programs, like food assistance and healthcare, after Republicans in Congress voted to gut these critical programs that kids, families, and seniors across Wisconsin depend on everyday, and as President Trump and his administration have continued their efforts to cut and gut critical funds and staffing from countless federal agencies, including the U.S. Departments of Education, Agriculture, and Veterans Affairs. Further, the Trump Administration’s reckless trade wars and tariff taxes will only make matters worse as prices go up on everyday items while household budgets are already stretched thin.
While President Trump and Republicans cause unnecessary chaos in Washington, Gov. Evers was proud to sign a bipartisan, pro-kid biennial state budget into law that works to invest in our kids and schools at every stage and every age, while ensuring healthcare access for Wisconsinites, especially in rural communities, and continuing support for vital food security programs. While the final 2025-27 Biennial Budget looks drastically different from the budget Gov. Evers originally proposed and does not include everything the governor asked for and hoped it would, this budget reflects the governor’s promise to do the right thing and work together to get good things done for the people of the state, showing that compromise doesn’t happen just once in a “Blue Moon.”
Gov. Tony Evers, who began 2025 by declaring it the Year of the Kid in Wisconsin, had been clear from the beginning of the biennial budget process that his top priority in the 2025-27 Biennial Budget would be to pass a pro-kid budget that makes meaningful investments in Wisconsin’s kids, from early childhood to K-12 to our higher education institutions. Gov. Evers delivered on that promise, and as enacted, the 2025-27 Biennial Budget approved by the governor includes:
- Nearly $1.4 billion in spendable revenue for K-12 schools, with the largest increase to the special education reimbursement rate in state history;
- The largest increase to the UW System in nearly two decades;
- Over $360 million to support Wisconsin’s child care industry and help lower child care costs for working families, a third of which is in direct payments to providers;
- A tax cut for working and middle-class families, bringing tax cuts enacted by Gov. Evers since he took office to over $12.6 billion;
- Lowering out-of-pocket energy and utility costs for Wisconsinites by eliminating the sales tax on household energy bills, saving Wisconsin households over $178 million over the next two years;
- Supporting healthcare access, especially in rural communities, and continuing funding for BadgerCare;
- Continuing support for Wisconsin farmers and producers through mental health services for farm families, food security initiatives, producer-led watershed protection efforts, and bolstering the supply chain;
- Fixing Wisconsin’s roads and bridges and making sure the state’s infrastructure meets the needs of a 21st-century workforce and economy, including three percent increases in each year for General Transportation Aids and $150 million to repair rural roads and bridges;
- $14 million investment in local communities across the state through municipal service payments to ensure local communities have the resources they need to meet basic and unique needs alike; and
- Funding to support the operations of the Wisconsin Veterans homes and a five percent increase for County and Tribal Veterans Service Offices.
Gov. Evers also exercised his broad, constitutional veto authority to partially veto aspects of the budget that were outside of the bipartisan budget negotiations. More information about the bipartisan pro-kid budget signed by Gov. Evers is available here.
On Mon., July 28, Gov. Evers kicked off his “Ice Cream Town Hall” tour with a visit to Purple Door Ice Cream in Milwaukee, where he was joined by stakeholders and community members to discuss measures included in the 2025-27 budget, as well as impacts of federal funding cuts to critical programs Wisconsinites rely on each day. Photos of the governor’s visit are available here and here.
Following this, Gov. Evers, together with Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson, Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford, and Menasha Mayor Austin Hammond, visited Frio Mexican Treats in Appleton, where they were joined by community members to discuss issues important in the community. A photo of the governor’s visit is available here.
On Tues., July 29, Gov. Evers started his day with a visit to Rudy’s Drive-In in La Crosse to discuss topics ranging from affordable housing to access to healthcare with community members and local leaders. Gov. Evers worked to secure $1.1 billion in the biennial budget to help support healthcare access for Wisconsinites—especially in rural areas—in the wake of drastic federal cuts to Medicaid. Photos of the governor’s visit are available here and here.
Following this, Gov. Evers, joined by Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza, visited Belts’ Soft Serve in Stevens Point to meet with local leaders representing several critical Wisconsin industries, including environmental stewardship organizations, the trades and labor, higher education leaders, and economic development organizations. While there, the group discussed a wide range of topics, including access to healthcare and investments in libraries, as well as discussed the governor’s efforts to protect Wisconsin’s natural resources. Photos of the governor’s visit are available here and here.
To wrap up the day, Gov. Evers, joined by New Richmond Mayor Jim Zajkowski, Natural Resources Board member Patty Schachtner, and other local leaders, visited Main Street Pizza in Star Prairie, where they discussed the recent state budget, as well as investments in Wisconsin’s veterans, mental health, local communities, and small businesses. During the visit, the group enjoyed Main Street Pizza’s famous Pickle Pizza, while discussing the governor’s investments through the Non-State Grant Program, which bolsters critical infrastructure and services across key sectors such as health and wellness, economic and workforce development, arts and culture, and public services. Photos of the governor’s visit are available here and here.
To continue his statewide tour, on Wed., July 30, Gov. Evers visited Scoop’s Ice Cream and Candy in Kenosha. He was joined by local leaders, area business owners, and leaders from the Kenosha Unified School District. While there, they discussed efforts to support Wisconsin’s kids and schools and bolster the educator pipeline and local issues facing the Kenosha community. Photos of the governor’s visit to Scoops Ice Cream and Candy in Kenosha are available here and here.
Following this, Gov. Evers, together with Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels, visited Cedar Crest Ice Cream Parlor in Manitowoc and met with community members, including Cedar Crest Ice Cream President Ken Kohlwey, folks from local tourism organizations, labor leaders, and the Manitowoc Public School District, to discuss measures included in the bipartisan, pro-kid budget that will help support Manitowoc’s kids, schools, industries, and community. This includes funding to support the restoration of the USS Cobia at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in downtown Manitowoc. While there, the governor also heard about the city’s sustainability efforts to divert paper and plastic waste and use it to generate power for their community. Photos of the governor’s visit to Cedar Crest in Manitowoc are available here and here.
To wrap up his “Ice Cream Town Hall” tour, Gov. Evers visited Briq’s Soft Serve in Rhinelander. The governor spoke with local leaders about challenges facing the community, including expanding access to affordable high-speed internet, support kids’ mental health, and ensuring access to quality affordable healthcare, including long-term care. While there, the governor also helped celebrate Briq’s Soft Serve’s 40th anniversary, honoring owners, Holly and Kevin, with a plaque. The ice cream parlor began in Wausau in 1985 and eventually expanded to include six locations. Photos of the governor’s visit to Rhinelander are available here, here, and here.
An online version of this release is available here.
