MADISON, WI – This morning, Governor Evers announced that he and state legislators have reached a deal to pass and sign a 2025-2027 Biennial Budget. After weeks of gridlock and republican infighting, Governor Evers and Senate Democratic Leader Dianne Hesselbein (SD-27) delivered sizable investments in – childcare, public education, healthcare, support for Wisconsin’s rural communities, and the UW system – while easing the tax burden on hardworking families across Wisconsin.
These months-long negotiations have demonstrated, in equal measure, that the Governor and Senate Democrats are willing to put the financial and physical security of Wisconsinites over partisan bickering while Madison Republicans like Howard Marklein are too weak and far too ineffectual to govern.
State Senate Democratic Committee Executive Director, Andrew Whitley, released the following statement on the budget deal:
“For months, Senate Republicans have shown us that they are completely unable to govern. Proving at every turn, they will prioritize the extreme factions of their party over Wisconsin families. Thankfully, this budget reflects the leadership of Leader Hesselbein and Governor Evers, who successfully negotiated key investments in the critical areas that matter most to Wisconsinites. While Howard Marklein and Senate Republicans continue to struggle to accept that they’re in the last years of their manufactured majority, Senate Democrats are ready to govern and deliver for Wisconsin.”
Thanks to Governor Evers and Senate Democrats, this budget deal delivers:
- $110 million in direct payments to child care providers to help providers keep their doors open and lights on, cut child care wait lists, and lower out-of-pocket child care costs for working families.
- $66 million to fund a new “Get Kids Ready” initiative, the first-ever child care program funded solely by general purpose revenue, or GPR, in Wisconsin state history, which will support child care providers serving four-year-olds to help prepare Wisconsin’s kids for the classroom and get an earlier jump start on learning at a critical time in development.
- A nearly $1.4 billion increase in spendable revenue for K-12 schools across the state.
- The largest percent increase in special education reimbursement rate in state history.
- $30 million to continue providing comprehensive school-based mental health services statewide.
- An increase of over $256 million for the UW System over the next two years.
- $1.1 Billion to support healthcare access.
- $150 Million to repair rural roads and bridges.
