Provides $500,000 TANF in each fiscal year for Jobs for America’s Graduates – Wisconsin Program to provide educational support and job or post-secondary readiness for TANF-eligible youth.
Invests in juvenile justice youth aids to counties with an additional $4.7 million GPR in each year.
Invests an additional $1 million TANF in each year in child welfare safety services to reduce the number of children entering the out-of-home care system.
Supports permanency for some of Milwaukee’s most vulnerable children in out-of-home care by increasing funding for the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Adoption Recruitment Program with $300,000 in fiscal year 2021-22.
Invests in quality care for children in the state’s child welfare system by providing a total of $577,800 in fiscal year 2022-23 for provider training and nursing services in Qualified Residential Treatment Programs as part of Wisconsin’s implementation of the federal Families First Prevention Act.
Provides $2.4 million in fiscal year 2021-22 and $5.2 million in fiscal year 2022-23 for the Department of Children and Families to make subsidized guardianship payments, which will allow counties currently making those payments to use Children and Family Aids on other important child welfare services.
Improves collection of delinquent child support in the state by providing over $5 million annually to local child support agencies. Higher Education and Workforce Development
Addresses the shortage of professors in nursing disciplines by providing $5 million in fiscal year 2021-22 for a new nurse educator fellowship and financial aid program administered by the Higher Educational Aids Board. This program also will help to increase the number of nursing professionals in the state, ultimately improving access to healthcare.
Helps protect the water quality of lakes and rivers by providing $5 million over the biennium to support the University of Wisconsin System’s Freshwater Collaborative, which trains water managers and scientists to address clean water and climate change challenges through a multidisciplinary approach.
Boosts the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Division of Extension’s ability to conduct outreach and education by providing $2 million over the biennium.
Supports technical education by providing $2.25 million in each year to the Wisconsin Technical College System in general aid plus $2.25 million in each year for grants to district boards.
Achieves property tax relief across state technical college districts by providing $72 million over the biennium in property tax relief aid.
Enhances the ability of the Department of Workforce Development to provide employment services to individuals with disabilities.
Bolsters the skilled workforce of the future by increasing support for youth and adult apprenticeship programs.
Strengthens the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund by providing $120 million over the biennium for the payment of unemployment benefits.Agriculture, Tourism and Economic Development
Provides $129 million in funding over the biennium to support the expansion of the Broadband Expansion Grant program, compared to $48 million during the 2019‑21 biennium. The $129 million is comprised of $125 million in general fund supported general obligation bonding, plus the statutorily required minimum of at least $2 million annually in funding from the state's universal service fund.
Creates a $200,000 annual meat processor grant program to help meat processing facilities expand and modernize.
Provides $558,400 annually for the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports.
Continues $100,000 annually in funding for farmer mental health assistance.
Increases funding for producer-led watershed protection grant awards from $750,000 annually to $1 million annually.
Provides $7 million over the biennium for Soil and Water Resource Management Program.
Supports the Department of Tourism’s efforts to promote Wisconsin as a premier travel destination in new, targeted advertising markets by providing ongoing funding of $781,800 in each year of the biennium. Increasing the number of visitors to the state will bolster our local economies as they recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
Sustains funding and staff for the Office of Outdoor Recreation in the Department of Tourism, which will allow the office to continue to forge relationships among the outdoor industry’s stakeholders to strengthen our outdoor economy. Transportation
Provides a 2 percent increase for general transportation aids to counties in both 2022 and 2023.
Provides a 2 percent increase for general transportation aids to municipalities in both 2022 and 2023.
Provides a $250,000 annual increase for the Wisconsin Employment Transportation Program.
Provides $100 million for a one-time local road improvement program.
Provides a 2.5 percent increase in both fiscal year 2021-22 and 2022-23 to Paratransit Aids.
Provides a 2.5 percent increase in both years to seniors and individuals with disabilities aid payments.
Provides $15.3 million in new bonding for the Harbor Assistance Program.
Provides $20 million for the Freight Rail Preservation Program.
Maintains project timelines for the Southeast Mega Projects program and the Major Highway Development program.
Maintains purchasing power of the State Highway Rehabilitation program.
Provides more than $1 million in fiscal year 2022-23 to install Hoan Bridge fencing improvements.
Provides $3.4 million in fiscal year 2021-22 and $5.4 million in fiscal year 2022-23 for increased salt costs.
Authorizes $20 million in bonding for the contracting method known as design-build.
Enumerates and funds the expansion of I-94 East/West from three to four lanes between the Marquette and the Zoo interchange with geometric improvements to exits along the corridor.Tax Fairness
Provides over $1 billion annually in ongoing tax relief by reducing the third individual income tax bracket. This action will reduce taxes for the median income family of four by $550 – and when combined with the tax rate reductions in the preceding legislative session, raises total tax relief for the median family of four to $800.
Reduces property taxes on the typical homeowner to levels below the 2020-21 property tax year in each year of the biennium.
Fully funds the video service provider fee replacement aid appropriation for municipalities.
Increases the refundable research credit rate from 10 percent to 15 percent to provide additional incentives for businesses to engage in research and development in Wisconsin.
Creates a new nonrefundable tax credit equal to 50 percent of the federal child and dependent care credit beginning in tax year 2022.
Provides $40 million in tax relief for servicemembers to cover all basic, special and incentive active duty pay.Clean Communities
Reauthorizes the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program for an additional four years at the current annual funding level of $33.25 million per year.
Provides $3 million for the restoration of the Pierce Islands Wildlife Area on the Mississippi River.
Provides $1 million for the removal and reconstruction of the dam on the Sheboygan River at Sheboygan Marsh.
Increases funding for state ATV and UTV trail maintenance by $250,000 annually.
Increase aids for local ATV and UTV trails by $750,000 annually.
Provides $200,000 annually for snowmobile trail mapping.
Increases funding for the well compensation program by $1 million annually.
Provides $4 million for Urban Nonpoint Source and Storm Water Management Program and the Municipal Flood Control Program.
Provides $6.5 million for the Targeted Runoff Management Program.
Provides $10 million for the Municipal Dam Safety Grant Program to repair and remove dams.Good Government
Provides $87.5 million GPR over the biennium for a general wage adjustment for most state employees at state agencies and the University of Wisconsin System of 2 percent in January of 2022, and an additional 2 percent in January of 2023.
Provides $2 million GPR over the biennium for targeted market and parity wage adjustments for employees within certain classifications in state agencies to better align their wages to those paid by private and other public sector employers.
Provides $1.2 million GPR in fiscal year 2022-23 to increase hourly night and weekend differential rates for employees of state agencies that qualify for such payments, beginning in January 2023.
Provides over $1.3 million in state funds over the biennium to extend the long-term service award program for protective positions within the Department of Corrections and Department of Health Services.
Provides $1.75 million in state funds over the biennium to support a $5 hourly wage add-on for correctional officers and sergeants working within an institution with greater than a 40 percent vacancy rate.
Provides $2.7 million over the biennium for pay progression for assistant district attorneys, deputy district attorneys and assistant state public defenders.
Provides $25 million over the biennium for the NG911 system implementation and Public Safety Answering Point grants.
Requires the Department of Military Affairs to oversee the development and operation of a statewide interoperable radio network to replace WISCOM.
Requires a study in fiscal year 2022-23 to determine the feasibility of constructing an electric microgrid system at Truax Field in Madison, to include the Joint Force Headquarters, the State Emergency Operations Center and the Joint Operations Center.
Provides $7 million in fiscal year 2021-22 in the Joint Committee on Finance supplemental appropriation for discretionary grants made to each of the state’s tribes, based on the number of employees working for each tribe.
Continues funding to support the creation of the tribal youth wellness center with $350,000 of one-time funding in each year.
Provides an additional $109,300 of one-time funding in each year to University of Wisconsin Green Bay to provide summer camp programs in cooperation with the Oneida Nation.
Increases funding for Veterans Service Office grants by $152,400 over the biennium.
Provides $100,000 annually to promote suicide prevention and awareness among veterans by providing outreach, mental health services, and support to individuals who are members of a traditionally underserved population. Nevertheless, this budget leaves much unfinished business, and there is, as always, more work to do. I will continue working to reduce our state’s tax burden for family caregivers, first-time homebuyers, low-income families, and seniors, all areas where current leaders in the Legislature dropped the ball in this budget.
I was also disheartened to see the Legislature remove long overdue initiatives I had proposed to make meaningful progress on reforming our justice system while also promoting equity both within state government and across our entire state. The people of our state have loudly and consistently demand that we – as a state and as a country – deliver on the promise of justice, fairness, and opportunity. This work is far from over, and the Legislature must be held to account for their failure to take meaningful action.
It is also disappointing the Legislature did not provide state funding for investments in the Verso Paper Mill in Wisconsin Rapids and the Park Falls Pulp and Paper Mill in Park Falls. Our state and our economy – clearly – are well-positioned to make meaningful investments in support of our paper industry. I previously called a special session that would have invested $1 billion into economic development projects and initiatives across the state, the purchase of both of these paper mills among them. Republicans in the Legislature gaveled out of that special session without consideration or debate. I then worked with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, legislators, local elected officials, and workers to reach a bipartisan agreement amending Assembly Bill 367 to ensure we could reach a deal without potentially jeopardizing state support for the mills. Republicans in the Legislature rejected that agreement, too. To date, these investments have been met with political games and obstruction of the worst kind. We have state resources to make these investments and they are available for expeditious legislative action. Enough partisan posturing – just get this done.
Other items this Legislature failed to meaningfully address include protecting the rights of every eligible voter and ensuring we have fair maps in this state. Across this country, we are watching as Republican politicians – including right here in Wisconsin – abuse their power, work to overturn election results, and undermine the confidence and credibility of our elections. Not only has the Legislature failed to join me in this budget by protecting the right of every eligible Wisconsinite to vote, but they have also passed and could continue to pursue legislation that would make it harder for folks to cast their ballot. So, I want to say unequivocally again today as I have said many times before: I will veto any bill that arrives to my desk that would make it easier for politicians to cheat and I will continue to protect the right of every eligible voter in this state.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, this Legislature must end its continued obstruction of expanding BadgerCare and access to quality, affordable healthcare in this state. For more than a decade now, Republicans in both the legislative and executive branches have put politics before people and refused the opportunity to ensure tens of thousands of people across Wisconsin could have access to affordable healthcare. Instead, they have worked to support litigation to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and protections for Wisconsinites who have pre‑existing conditions. Over the last decade, the Legislature’s relentless opposition to fully expanding Medicaid in Wisconsin has left billions of federal dollars on the table. This has never been more foolish than it is now as the American Rescue Plan Act provides an additional, one-time incentive for states like Wisconsin to expand Medicaid – that is $1 billion our state could invest in our continued economic recovery and support folks across our state. I don’t care what your party affiliation is, folks – this is just common sense.
I proposed expanding BadgerCare in my first budget, I proposed it again in this budget as part of our Badger Bounceback Agenda, and I proposed it once again in a special session call of the Legislature so we could take that $1 billion and invest it in economic development projects and initiatives in every corner of our state. Republicans must end their continued obstruction. I will continue working with partners at the federal and state level to explore any opportunity to expand BadgerCare in this state, and, as always, my door remains open – as it has been for two years – for any Republican legislator who wants to lead on this issue.
Healthcare should not be a privilege afforded only to the healthy and wealthy. And as long as I am governor, I will never stop fighting to ensure the people of this state can access quality, affordable healthcare. Period.
Though there is undoubtedly much more to do to move our state forward, at the end of the day, I ran for governor to get things done for the people of Wisconsin, to “move the needle” in our priorities, and to find common ground with those who may not agree with me on every issue. While this bipartisan budget – the first bipartisan budget passed in years – in many ways falls short of the budget Wisconsinites expected the Legislature to deliver, it does invest in a number of our priorities that are necessary for our state’s continued economic recovery and making Wisconsin an even better place to live, work, play and raise a family.
In the coming weeks and months, I will continue working to engage the Legislature to use the state resources available to further invest in our kids and our schools, our caregivers, our farmers, our veterans, our seniors, our small business owners and many others. I hope the Legislature will join me in this important work so we can continue our state’s economic recovery and bounce back from this pandemic better and stronger than we were before.
Let’s get to work.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
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