Madison, Wis. — On Wednesday, July 2nd, into the early hours of the 3rd, the state legislature convened in an extraordinary session to vote on the 2025-2027 state budget. Rep. Ryan Spaude (D-Ashwaubenon) released the following statement:
“While I recognize and commend the bipartisan cooperation that occurred this past week, taxpayers in my district deserve better. Working families in Green Bay and Ashwaubenon can’t afford to watch their property taxes go up again and again. With this budget, the state legislature continues to starve our chronically underfunded public schools. We fought hard for an adequate increase in categorical aid and the special education reimbursement rate. We didn’t get it. As a direct result, we’ll have to go back to referendum. This will likely happen in both Green Bay and Ashwaubenon within the next two years.
“As a public school kid, I know the power of education on a personal level. I’ve seen my neighbors stand up for our schools at the ballot box my whole life. A quality public education is truly a Wisconsin value.
“When the state has a historic surplus, it’s unconscionable for legislators to shift the burden once again to local taxpayers. The relief in this budget for the average family will be vastly outweighed by the incoming hike in property taxes. We need better. We deserve better. I voted against this budget to stand up for the taxpayers who can’t afford more neglect from Madison.
“To be clear, the work of the legislature doesn’t end today. My Democratic colleagues and I will continue to fight to address this budget’s inadequacies and deliver results for Wisconsin.”
