After Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers issued his 65 page veto message on July 3, the final two-year Wisconsin state budget for 2019-21 weighs in at 214 pages and spends $81.5 billion.
So what's the final result for issues that impact the business community? Besides including the planned UWEC Science Building in the state's capital budget, the biennial budget sets the course for the state in education, infrastructure and workforce development. Here's a recap of the key highlights of Wisconsin's budget process and the final result. The process
As an interesting comparison, even though control of government is split between a Democratic Governor and Republican Legislature, the final budget was passed by the legislature before the end of the fiscal year, with the Governor signing it on July 3. In 2017, with Republicans controlling both the Governorship and the Legislature, the budget was not completed until September. In that year, the Assembly and the Senate could not initially agree on a path for transportation funding. More information: 2019 Wisconsin Act 9 (Final approved budget passed by the Legislature with vetoes shown) Governor's Budget as proposed on February 28 Governor's Veto Message (65 pages, including list and explanation of partial vetoes, Governor Tony Evers) 'Politics is about relationships': Gov. Evers, GOP had trouble meeting (Racine Journal-Times) Governor Makes 78 Partial Vetoes To GOP-Backed Spending Plan (Wisconsin Public Radio) Evers pumps more money into K-12 through partial vetoes as he signs budget (WisPolitics.com) A look at Gov. Tony Evers’ partial budget vetoes (Associated Press) Video: Wisconsin Eye Capitol Roundtable discussion of the final state budget (Wisconsin Eye) Here are relevant comments upon completion of the final budget: Governor Evers:
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald:
Assembly Transportation Chair Bob Kulp (R-69)
Highlights of the final budget UWEC Science Building is "in" the capital budget Among the most closely-watched budget items for our region was the $109 million in the capital program for Phase I of UWEC's proposed new Science and Health Sciences Building, which remains in the budget and now moves forward. Reacting to the news, UWEC Chancellor James Schmidt said, "A new Science and Health Sciences Building will allow our master collaborative research agreement with Mayo Clinic Health System to flourish. Together, and with this investment from the state of Wisconsin, UW-Eau Claire and Mayo Clinic are poised to tackle pressing research questions and needs for innovation in rural healthcare. Phillips Hall’s days are numbered, and I look forward to beginning the planning and design process for this new building as soon as possible." All state building projects got $1.9 billion, less than the $2.5 billion proposed by Evers but above the less-than-$1 billion level in most recent budgets. Northwest Wisconsin loses provision that would have provided new mental health beds The Legislature's version of the budget had provided a $15 million earmark for a northern Wisconsin regional crisis center to provide mental health beds at HSHS facilities in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, to avoid the need for local authorities to transfer patients across the state for treatment. In his partial vetoes, Evers moved the money instead to help expand the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center, which is also part of the overhaul of the state’s youth prison system. Taxes
Transportation
Transportation is one area where there were a number of partial vetoes. Perhaps the most significant, the Governor reduced the legislature-passed $90 one-time million GPR transfer to transportation for local roads to $75 million. He then ordered DOT not to allot the funds, which then allows DOT to determine it will be used. "The effect of this partial veto will be to allow the department to prioritize the most critical transit and transportation needs," said Evers in his veto message. Assembly Transportation Chair Bob Kulp said, “Evers’ veto creates a DOT slush fund of $75 million instead of directing it to local roads as intended.” Other transportation-related partial vetoes included:
There was an overall theme to Evers' partial vetoes where he eliminated specific directions from the legislature for the use of various appropriations to give his administration more flexibility in their use. Education and Workforce Development
Health Services and Insurance
Agriculture, Tourism and Economic Development
Additional information and analysis: Video: Wisconsin Eye Capitol Roundtable discussion of the final state budget (Wisconsin Eye) Video: The "Insiders" on who won the budget battle (WisPolitics.com) Video: Rewind - The Week in Madison (Wisconsin Eye/WisPolitics.com) Podcast: #Localgovmatters (Wisconsin Counties Association) Posted by Scott Rogers, Governmental Affairs & Workforce Director rogers@eauclairechamber.org Comments are closed.
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