Local News

Governor Scott Walker Delivers State Budget Address

February 4, 2015

During his State Budget address to the Wisconsin Legislature Tuesday night Governor Scott Walker touted lower property taxes, which on a typical home in Wisconsin are $131 less this year than they were in 2010 because of his reforms. He says homeowners tax bills will get even lower yet, with a proposed property tax reduction of $300 million over the next two years. State Senator Rick Gudex of Fond du Lac says that proposal will provide much needed property tax relief. Democrats in the legislature reserve their harshest criticism for Governor Walker’s public school plans. Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca of Kenosha says it takes the state in an extremely harmful direction. Walker’s budget contains no real increase for public school funding, while lifting the statewide cap on voucher school enrollments. State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt of Fond du Lac says the uncapped statewide expansion of school choice is something he has been advocating for years.

More On State Budget Proposal

Governor Scott Walker’s proposed nearly $70 billion State Budget would pay for transportation needs with $1.3 billion in borrowing, something GOP legislative leaders are already questioning. Walker touted the “value of hard work,” and his controversial plan to require drug testing for food stamps and other public benefits. Walker’s so-called “Freedom and Prosperity” budget includes “significant reductions” across state government to deal with a projected revenue shortfall of more than $900 million in the biennium. The deficit would be $2.2 billion, if all agencies got the additional funding they wanted. State Representative Gordon Hintz of Oshkosh criticized Walker’s proposed $300 million in cuts to the U-W System and the borrowing for road building. He says the Governor is spinning the budget for his audience in Iowa and Washington.