This week, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a summary of Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed 2017-2019 state budget. The LFB budget summary provides a plain language detail of Walker’s budget and will serve as the guide as the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) begin their review of the budget. Following the release of the analysis, a tentative […]
Governor’s Budget is Out… So, What’s Next?
Date Fri, Feb. 24, 2017 - 12:13pm By Hamilton
On Feb. 8, Governor Walker introduced his 2017-19 budget. This kicks off the legislative budget process that will command the legislature’s time for the next several months. The governor is traveling around the state selling his proposed budget to the public – often highlighting his $649 million investment in K-12 education. Positioning himself for another […]
Gov. Walker’s 2017-19 State Budget Address: Legislators Respond
Date Fri, Feb. 10, 2017 - 11:53am By Hamilton
On Feb. 8, Gov. Scott Walker gave his biennial State Budget Address to the legislature. The governor’s budget focused on three themes: Student Success, Accountable Government and Rewarding Work. Republicans were generally pleased with Walker’s proposal, but both parties agreed that the budget did not go far enough to address Wisconsin’s transportation budget shortfall. Republicans […]
Gov. Walker’s 2017-19 Biennium Budget Highlights
Date Fri, Feb. 10, 2017 - 11:51am By Hamilton
On Wednesday, Feb. 8, Governor Walker presented his 2017-19 budget. Overall, the governor’s $76.1 billion budget invests in education and provides tax relief. The governor increased K-12 funding by $649 million and put $140 million in the University system, including $35 million to offset a five percent tuition cut. Balancing his other major priority, the governor’s […]
Gov. Walker’s 2017 State Budget Address: Full Transcript
Date Wed, Feb. 8, 2017 - 5:07pm By Hamilton
As Prepared for Delivery – Speaker Vos, Speaker Pro Tem August, President Roth, Majority Leader Fitzgerald, Minority Leader Shilling, Minority Leader Barca, Supreme Court Justices, Constitutional Officers, tribal leaders, members of the Cabinet, members of the Legislature, distinguished guests, and most importantly, fellow citizens of the great State of Wisconsin, it is an honor to […]
New DOT Audit Released
Date Fri, Feb. 3, 2017 - 10:32am By Hamilton
The Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) released a new audit of the Department of Transportation (DOT) on Jan. 26, revealing increased expenditures, inaccurate cost estimates and deteriorating state roads. The audit comes amid this session’s contentious transportation budget debate. The audit examined 16 highway projects that were ongoing as of August 2016 and 19 completed projects. […]
LFB Estimates More Revenue
Date Fri, Feb. 3, 2017 - 10:20am By Hamilton
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) recently released their latest revenue estimates for the current fiscal year (FY 2016-17) and for the 2017- 19 biennium. In November, the Department of Administration (DOA) and the Department of Revenue (DOR) projected the state would end the current fiscal year with a $104 million balance. The most recent estimates […]
Gov. Walker Unveils Welfare Reform Plan
Date Fri, Feb. 3, 2017 - 10:18am By Hamilton
Last week, Gov. Scott Walker unveiled Wisconsin Works for Everyone, a new welfare reform plan that will be included in his 2017-2019 budget. Joined by former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, Walker said he would expand reforms Thompson started in his term in the 1990s. The plan consists of nine parts and is intended to incentivize […]
Medicaid Projected to End Year with Surplus
Date Fri, Jan. 13, 2017 - 9:19am By Hamilton
On Dec. 30, 2016, the Department of Health Services released an update on the Medicaid budget for the current 2017 fiscal year. DHS reported to the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) that they project a $312.5 million balance in general purpose revenue (GPR) Medicaid dollars. The all-fund balance, including GPR, federal, program and segregated revenues, is […]
Assembly Committee Holds Hearing on DOT’s Budget
Date Tue, Dec. 20, 2016 - 8:49am By Hamilton
The Assembly Committee on Transportation held a hearing on the Department of Transportation’s 2017-19 state budget request on Tuesday, Dec. 6. This budget request includes $500 million in new bonding, but no tax or fee increases. Committee chairperson Rep. Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) and the committee heard from 14 groups with a stake in the transportation […]