(MADISON, Wis) – On Thursday, July 3, the Wisconsin State Assembly passed the 2025-27 state budget. Rep. Margaret Arney (Milwaukee/Wauwatosa) released the following statement in response:
Today, I voted against the biennial budget on the Assembly floor. I am thankful that fair maps allowed Democrats a seat at the table in this budget cycle, and we were able to strengthen the budget through provisions like sustained child care funding and fewer cuts to the UW system than originally proposed by the majority party. However, I am still disappointed in the final result.
This budget inadequately funds education in Wisconsin. Because of this underfunding, the budget will continue to force communities across Wisconsin to go to referendum to continue funding their schools. We have seen innumerable examples of attempts at referendums to keep the lights on in our schools. Luckily, many pass. But not all do, leaving schools with insufficient funding and nowhere to turn, forcing budget cuts and negatively affecting our schoolchildren.
Our current course is unacceptable and unsustainable. Wisconsin school districts across Wisconsin need our help- and this budget simply does not do enough for them. That is why I could not support it on the floor today.
