MADISON, WI – Today, after last-minute negotiations between Senate Democratic Minority Leader Hesselbein (D-Middleton), Governor Evers, and Republican Leadership, the 2025-27 biennial budget bill was passed out of the State Senate on a bipartisan vote. Senator Dassler-Alfheim (D-Appleton) voted in favor.
“It’s not the budget that I would have written, but it’s a step forward. Before this session, Legislative Democrats didn’t even have a seat at the table, but that’s changed. Senate Democrats fought tooth and nail for the investments this bill makes in child care, K-12 education, the Universities of Wisconsin, and local priorities like the Municipal Services Payments program and the renovation of the UW-Oshkosh Polk Learning Commons – investments that Republicans would have left out completely,” said the Senator.
The budget passed out of the Senate today includes $330 million to support the child care industry, $1.4 billion in spendable revenue for K-12 schools, $30 million for school-based mental health services, an increase of over $256 million for the Universities of Wisconsin, $137.5 million for the necessary renovation of UW-Oshkosh’s Polk Learning Commons, and $14 million for the Municipal Services Payments (MSP) Program. Prior to Senate Democrats’ involvement in the budget negotiations, legislative Republicans’ plans were to spend nothing on child care stabilization, make minimal investments in K-12 public schools, and slash $87 million from the Universities of Wisconsin.
“This budget isn’t great, but that’s to be expected when a compromise budget is negotiated. Ultimately, I voted in favor because of the investments it makes right here in our community that alleviate the burden on local taxpayers,” said the Senator. “I look forward to doing even more during the next budget cycle to address these issues.”
During Joint Finance Executive Sessions and today’s floor session, Democrats repeatedly offered amendments to further boost funding in key areas but were voted down by Republicans. The budget bill will now head to the Assembly for passage before it can be signed by the Governor.
