The Wisconsin Counties Association is commending Governor Tony Evers and the Legislature for their bipartisan work on Wisconsin Act 15, the $111.1 billion 2025-2027 state budget signed into law this morning. The budget includes vital investments that will benefit counties and the citizens they serve.
“This budget reflects a strong commitment to Wisconsin’s local governments and demonstrates the power of collaboration in addressing the diverse needs of our state,” said WCA President & CEO Mark D. O’Connell. “We applaud Governor Evers and legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle for their dedication to strengthening county services and investing in infrastructure, public safety, health and human services, and our local economies.”
Key provisions of the 2025-2027 state budget that support counties include: Judicial and Courts
- Circuit Court support in the amount of an additional $10 million annually to counties.
- 43 additional assistant district attorney positions across the state.
- Statewide Interoperable Radio Network Replacement project awarded $79.7 million in 2025-26.
- Grants for WISCOM Upgrades awarded $10 million in 2025-26 for local governments to upgrade their interoperable radio equipment. Health and Human Services
- $11.1 million in state funds and $21.6 million in federal funds provided over the biennium to support the replacement of the current child support system with a modern web-based system.
- $1.8 million in 2025-26 provided for grants to create psychiatric residential treatment facilities in Wisconsin.
Governor Evers partially vetoed the Juvenile Corrections rates thereby establishing a daily rate for counties of $501 in fiscal year 2025-26 and $758 in fiscal year 2026-27.
Agriculture, Environment, and Land Use
- Funding for County Conservation Staf`ing Grants will provide enough dollars to support three positions in every county conservation department at 100%, 70%, and 50% funding – which increases the investment from 2025 by $7.5 million over the biennium.
- Additional $500,000 for County Sustainable Forestry Grants and County Forest Administrator Grants, as well as $130,000 more for County Forest Wildlife Habitat Grants. Transportation and Public Works
- Counties will have an additional $30 million over the biennium to provide routine maintenance on the state highway system.
- Increase to General Transportation Aids (GTA) of 3% in the `irst year of the biennium and an additional 3% in the second year of the biennium.
- Additional one-time investment in the Local Roads Improvement Program- Supplemental (LRIP-S) of $100 million.
- Reinvested $150 million in the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) with $30 million set aside to assist local governments with `ixing or replacing 6–20- foot bridges that are in poor condition. General Government
- County Veterans Service Of`ice Grants awarded $64,600 SEG annually (5% increase)
- Non-State Local Project Grant Program awarded $50 million in earnings interest from the American Rescue Plan Act for a grant program to assist non-state organizations with facility construction.
O’Connell concluded, “Crafting a state budget is never easy, and it requires real compromise. We thank the Governor and Legislature for their leadership and ongoing partnership in getting a budget across the finish line that will position our counties and our state for a robust future.”
