In Fifth State of the State, Gov. Evers Announces Budget Proposals

Gov. Tony Evers (D) delivered his fifth annual State of the State address on the evening of January 24 before a joint session of the Wisconsin Legislature. The address was delivered in the Assembly Chambers of the Wisconsin Capitol Building. The governor’s office has released the full text of his prepared remarks as well as […]

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State Budget Issues: Taxes, Medicaid, PFAS

With another legislative session comes another biennial state budget bill, and Wisconsin is expected to have a surplus of $7.1 billion when the current fiscal biennium ends June 30. The 2023-25 state budget will occupy much of the Legislature’s attention for the next few months. In last night’s State of the State address, Gov. Tony […]

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Gov. Evers Begins Second Term as GOP Legislature Considers Broad Tax Reform

Tony Evers Sworn in for Second Term as Governor Inauguration Day in Wisconsin took place on January 3. Democratic incumbents Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul began their second terms in office, while Sara Rodriguez was sworn in as the state’s new lieutenant governor. Gov. Evers spent the majority of his second inaugural […]

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2023-24 Legislative Session: Joint Finance Committee Members

The 16-member Joint Committee on Finance (or Joint Finance Committee, JFC) is among the most important committees of the Wisconsin Legislature. It is responsible for writing the biennial state budget and has the authority to approve requests for funding, agency position authority, and state lawsuit settlements. The committee has an equal number of members from […]

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State Agencies Submit 2023-25 Budget Requests

On September 15, Wisconsin state government agencies submitted requests for the next state budget to Gov. Tony Evers (D) and the Department of Administration (DOA). The state budgets on a two-year (biennial) basis, with fiscal years beginning July 1 and ending June 30. The 2023-2025 state budget will cover a two-year period from July 1, […]

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Gov. Evers Delivers Fourth State of the State; Calls Special Session on Surplus Spending

Gov. Tony Evers (D) delivered his fourth annual State of the State address on the evening of February 15 before a joint session of the Wisconsin Legislature. The address was delivered in the Assembly Chambers of the Wisconsin Capitol Building. It was the final address of Gov. Evers’ first term as governor; he is seeking […]

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Governor and Legislative Leaders Differ Over State Surplus Plans

Wisconsin’s latest budget projections brought good news, with the state now projected to end the 2021-23 fiscal biennium with a $3.8 billion surplus. As we reported in January, Wisconsin ended its most recent fiscal year with a balance of $1.18 billion, its largest positive balance ever as calculated using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The […]

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State Budget Update: GAAP Balance; Withholding Tables; Lottery Credit

State Records Large Positive GAAP Balance According to a press release from Gov. Tony Evers (D), Wisconsin’s General Fund recorded its largest positive balance ever, as calculated under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), at the end of the 2020-21 fiscal year. The state ended the most recent fiscal year with a balance of $1.18 billion. […]

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President Biden Signs Infrastructure Bill Including Billions for Wisconsin

On November 15, President Joe Biden (D) signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill in early November by a vote of 228-206, with most Democratic members supporting the bill and most Republican members opposed. The Senate had passed the bill in August on a 69-30 […]

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State Ends 2021 With Record Surplus; Withholding Tables Updated; Bond Ratings Upgraded

The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) announced October 18 that the state ended its 2021 fiscal year with a balance of $2.58 billion, a record surplus and more than double the $1.17 billion balance Wisconsin had at the end of the previous fiscal year. Wisconsin’s fiscal year ends on June 30. The budget numbers released […]

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