Hi, this is Senator Howard Marklein. I am the co-chair of the legislature’s budget-writing, Joint Committee on Finance.
Last week the Governor signed the bipartisan budget bill passed by the State Legislature. This budget was the product of months of negotiation. It was shaped by compromise between houses, between parties, and between branches of government.
There is a lot to like in this budget. For starters, it provides tax relief to almost every single Wisconsinite. We were able to provide meaningful tax relief for retirees and the middle class, as well as making your electrical bill at home sales tax free. This all adds up to a tax cut of $1.5 billion!
Our budget makes serious investments in Wisconsin’s infrastructure, putting more than $1 billion towards roads and bridges, improving access to clean water, and helping communities with local projects.
During our listening sessions around the state, we heard from parents and teachers about the cost of special education. That is why we provided the largest increase in funding for special education reimbursement in state history! Finally, we stabilized our childcare industry without making pandemic-era subsidies to childcare providers permanent. We made structural reforms to the industry and put money into the hands of parents through the Wisconsin Shares program.
This is the best of our budget. The Legislature wrote a budget that is made for Wisconsin. We funded our state’s priorities, cut taxes, and set our state up for success. I am proud of the Legislature’s work on the budget and look forward to continuing to move Wisconsin forward.
