2017-19 Budget Preview

Tis the season for below-zero temperatures, eggnog, and of course, the beginning of the 2017-19 budget process. And, considering the governor and legislators have been engaging in the transportation budget debate since May, this “budget-season” will likely not disappoint. Most members of the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) have been announced, except for the two Democratic […]

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Fitzgerald, Vos, Shilling Announce JFC Members

GOP legislative leaders officially chose who will lead the all-powerful Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) through next session’s budget process. Despite being amid a recount, Sen. Minority Leader Shilling (D-La Crosse) announced today her reappointment of Sens. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) and John Erpenbach (D-Middleton) to the JFC. On Dec. 1, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) […]

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State Agency Budget Requests Exceed Expected Revenue by $693 Million

On Nov. 21, the Department of Administration (DOA) released a report on agency budget requests and revenue estimates for the 2017-19 biennium. As in previous years, these budget requests exceed the revenue projections for FY 2017-19. DOA Secretary Scott Neitzel notes this “imbalance” in the opening letter of the report, stating as in the past, […]

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Walker Announces Budget Increase for Local Roads

On Oct. 13, 2016, Gov. Scott Walker announced his plan to increase local road funding by 8.5 percent in his 2017-2019 budget for the local road improvement program and general transportation aids. Walker’s release stated his budget would invest an additional $14.6 million in to general transportation aids. Combined with the nearly $9 million increase […]

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State Ends the 2016 Fiscal Year with $313.8 Million Balance

On Oct. 17, the Department of Administration (DOA) released the Annual Fiscal Report for fiscal year (FY) 2016. The report shows the state ended the FY 2016 with a balance of $313.8 million. This is $76.2 million less than the $390 million balance assumed in the budget. According to the report, in 2016 general purpose […]

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DHS Requests Includes $452 Million More for Medicaid

Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary Linda Seemeyer submitted her agency’s budget request to Governor Walker on September 15, 2016. The request asks for a total of $455.5 million in additional general purpose revenue (GPR). In her cover letter, Secretary Seemeyer points out that the funding increases in the budget request are limited to standard […]

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Department of Transportation Budget Ignites Funding Debate

As anticipated, the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) agency budget request includes no increases to taxes or fees to increase transportation revenues, fulfilling Gov. Walker’s directive to the agency. Walker and Assembly Republicans have been publicly at odds over the agency budget request, with Walker stating he is “willing to consider any specific alternatives from Assembly […]

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DNR Requests Budget Decrease but Adds CAFO Staff

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) formally submitted their agency budget request to Governor Walker on September 15, 2016. Overall, DNR’s all funds budget for the 2017-19 biennium is 2.1 percent less than the 2016-17 fiscal year base doubled. This amounts to about $23.4 million less funding over the biennium. DNR’s all funds budget […]

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Department of Justice Submits Budget Request

Attorney General Brad Schimel submitted the Department of Justice (DOJ) 2017-19 budget request to Governor Walker on September 15, 2016. Including all funding sources, DOJ’s request is a 6.2 percent increase over the base fiscal year (2016-17) doubled. This increase amounts to $6.6 million in new general purpose revenue (GPR) over the biennium. The largest […]

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Walker Administration Shuffles Staff

The Department of Administration (DOA) announced on Sept. 20 that Waylon Hurlburt will be the new state budget director. Hurlburt will replace Michael Heifetz, who is transitioning to the Department of Health Services (DHS) as state Medicaid director. Hurlburt and Heifetz will begin their new positions Oct. 3. Hurlburt joins DOA from the governor’s office. […]

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