MADISON – Rep. Dean Kaufert [R – Neenah] issued the following statement on passage of the state budget:
“I ran for office pledging to work together in a bipartisan manner for the citizens of the Fox Valley and Wisconsin and engage in civil discussion to get things done for our local residents. This budget is an example of that – a compromise negotiated by both sides, with the Legislature and the Governor’s office.”
“We have split control of government in our state, which means that we have to work together and compromise to make positive investments that move Wisconsin forward and help our citizens. While there are certainly some things in this budget that I don’t like, there are also many positive things for Wisconsinites.”
“The budget will provide significant tax relief for middle class families and seniors, and save all Wisconsinites money on their monthly utility bill, while making substantial new investments in education, child care, mental health, health care, and road and infrastructure repair across the state.”
“I spoke out publicly and privately throughout the budget process on the importance of compromise and working together to get a positive result for Wisconsin residents. That is what most citizens want – a government that works and gets things done for them. No one got everything they wanted, but we were able to achieve a bipartisan bill that is fiscally responsible and meets the needs of our citizens for the next two years.”
Kaufert noted some of the positive aspects he supported in the state budget:
$1.5 Billion in tax reductions targeted to middle class families and seniors over age 67.
Elimination of the sales tax on residential natural gas and electric bills – a 5% reduction on every bill.
$1.4 Billion in new funding for K-12 education and our schools; including the largest increase in state special education reimbursement rate in state history, from 32% to 45%, funding high-cost special education at 90%, and $30 Million for school-based mental health services.
$330 Million in funding for child care costs and reforms to help make child care more affordable and accessible for Wisconsin families.
Blocked $3.7 Billion in new taxes proposed by the Governor.
Spent nearly $10 Billion less than the Governor proposed and borrowed only about half of what the
Governor proposed.
Cut over 300 positions in state government, and 1,200 less than the Governor proposed.
$256 Million in new funding for the UW-System, plus $840 Million in capital projects, with
reforms to ensure the state funding is directed toward instruction, not administrators.
Funding for completion of a new juvenile detention center in Madison that will allow Lincoln Hills
to be closed and converted to an adult facility.
Planning funds to begin the process of closing Green Bay Correctional Institution in 2029.
Kaufert also noted some important local investments for the Neenah-Menasha area he worked to include in the state budget (provided they are not vetoed by the Governor):
$200,000 investment in the Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue training facility improvement project in Neenah. This project is a vital investment in local public safety infrastructure for Neenah-Menasha and the entire region that will be used by fire departments and emergency services throughout the Fox Valley. It adds a state contribution to $1 Million in local funds that have already been allocated to the project.
$531,800 in new funding to the existing lift bridge aids account to ensure Menasha’s Racine Street lift bridge is included in the program that reimburses local municipalities for their costs in maintaining and operating lift bridges.
$137 Million investment in the Polk Library and Learning Center renovation at UW-Oshkosh.
“Former State Senator Michael Ellis taught me many things, including: 1) Get both sides in a room and get the best deal you can. 2) Show respect and civility to the other side. 3) If everyone is not totally happy after negotiations, you probably have a good product,” Kaufert said.
