Today Governor Evers signed the 2019-21 State Budget, using his partial veto authority to increase investments for the people of Wisconsin; increasing per-pupil state aid for public schools by nearly $100 million over the biennium.
Despite the many shortfalls of this budget, we have record investments in the key policy areas that a majority of Wisconsinites support. It's refreshing to know that our school districts and poor transportation infrastructure will begin to be better. Going forward, it's important we continue these investments so Wisconsin doesn't fall behind again. I'm confident we will continue to work together in the legislature to ensure we only move forward, not backwards.
Below I discuss some of the key provisions Governor Evers signed off on today:
Education
$95 million in special education funding
$330 million increase in state general aid
Provides over a quarter of our lower-spending school districts the ability to increase their revenues if they choose without having to go to referendum
Increases transportation aid for rural districts by $1.6 million, increasing reimbursement rates to 90 percent
$2 million to enhance our rural teacher talent program
$5.7 million increase for school libraries
Increases state aid for Very Special Arts and Special Olympic programs by 33%
$85 million to increase the Wisconsin Shares Child Program
$30 million to increase country-run child welfare programs
$25 million for the Wisconsin Technical System
$45 million for the University of Wisconsin System, while continuing the tuition freeze
Health
$230 million to address the direct care workforce shortage, including increased wages and reimbursement rates
$9.9 million for rural healthcare providers
$2.5 million to increase reimbursement rates for dental services who serve individuals wit intellectual or physical disabilities
$14.2 million for lead testing
$1.7 million for 8 additional dementia care specialists and 1 tribal dementia care specialist in Aging and Disability Resource Centers
$30 million to support programs for Wisconsin veterans
$10 million for a new cancer research center at the Medical College of Wisconsin
$7.5 million to reduce homelessness across the state
Provides over 60 new full-time assistant district attorneys across the state
Agriculture, Tourism and Economic Development
$48 million to expand broadband across the state
$8.8 for a Dairy Innovation Hub at the University of Wisconsin System, which will help increase the amount of dairy farmers
Creates an automatic license renewal option for hunters and anglers
Creates a new Office of Outdoor Recreation at the Department of Tourism
Clean Communities
Provides 2 full-time employees at the Department of Natural Resources to research water and sources of contamination
$150,000 to develop a model to identify and prioritize sites with PFA contamination
$6.5 million for a Targeted Runoff Management Program, which will help reduce source pollution
Extension of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund
Taxes
$518 million in tax relief for lower and middle income earners
Single filers will see a tax reduction of $136
Married filers will see a tax reduction of $182
Transportation
$465 million increase
$320 million in additional funding for our State Highway Rehabilitation program
$66 million to counties, towns, and villages based on transportation needs
Veto of the 'per-mile' study the Joint Committee on Finance proposed
The Budget Going Forward
Now that the 2019-21 State Budget is signed, the budget process is pretty much done. However, the Republicans in the legislature still could attempt to override Evers' partial vetoes - it's unclear what they plan to do.
Enjoy the holiday,
Steve
| State Rep. Steve Doyle - PO BOX 8952, Madison 53708 |