Additionally, as was the case during the last budget, I am glad the Legislature joined me in supporting a number of other provisions and initiatives included in my Badger Bounceback Agenda.
I was proud to make significant investments to support the servicemembers who have served our state and our country and was glad to have the Legislature join me in this work by increasing funding for Veterans Service Office grants and providing $200,000 toward suicide awareness and prevention and mental health services, especially for veterans in underserved communities and areas. One legislative Republican called this “a really good budget for veterans.” I agree.
We are also continuing our work to fix our roads and invest in infrastructure across our state. While I am disappointed that the Legislature continues to reject increased, meaningful investments in support of mass transit and transportation alternatives, I am glad our budget will provide $100 million into improving local roads across our state, invests in our harbor and freight rail systems, and increases general transportation aids for our local communities in both years of the biennium.
Additionally, the coronavirus pandemic underscored and exacerbated the urgency with which we must work to expand access to reliable, affordable Internet. In 2021, high-speed Internet is no longer a luxury – it is a necessity – and it is a key part of supporting small businesses, increasing access to healthcare in our rural communities, and addressing the digital divide in our classrooms. I am disappointed that in the Year of Broadband Access, the Legislature failed to meet my nearly $200 million proposed investment into broadband – the largest state investment in state history, and nearly quadruple the investment of the last budget – and decided to use bonding for broadband investments, which will ultimately cost taxpayers more in the long-run. But I am proud my Badger Bounceback Agenda was able to push the Legislature to make increased investments in making high-speed Internet more accessible and includes $129 million in funding over the biennium to support the expansion of the Broadband Expansion Grant program.
The biggest problems with this budget are not the things in it which need to be removed with the stroke of a pen, but rather the work the Legislature left undone – whether it is investing in our kids and our schools, criminal justice reform measures, equity initiatives, or support for our state’s small businesses, there was much more that we could have accomplished together. Therefore, I am once again using my broad constitutional authority to rework this budget in order to bring it closer to the one I assembled for the people of our state.
My actions today will improve this document and leave resources available to ensure that this unfinished business can be addressed, including meaningfully investing in our kids and our schools. In addition, investments in healthcare, clean water, protection of our natural resources, and support for our small businesses and entrepreneurs are all critical to our continued economic recovery and to our state’s future.
The following is a short summary of how this budget, including my vetoes, will continue to build upon our foundation by putting us in position to do so going forward:
Healthy Communities
Increases Medicaid dental rates by 40 percent by providing an additional $46 million over the biennium.
Provides a 12 percent rate increase in fiscal year 2021-22 and another 12 percent in fiscal year 2022-23 for nursing homes.
Increases funding for direct care workforce serving individuals in the Family Care program by $104 million over the biennium.
Increases funding for Medicaid personal care rates by over $78 million over the biennium.
Provides an additional $104 million to hospitals who serve a disproportionate share of low-income individuals through Disproportionate Share Hospital payments.
Provides a 15 percent increase to the reimbursement rates for autism services for adaptive behavioral health treatment.
Increases funding for Community Health Centers and Free and Charitable Clinics by $2 million each over the biennium.
Provides $3.5 million over the biennium to fund 18 additional dementia care specialist and seven additional tribal dementia care specialist positions at Aging and Disability Resource Centers to ensure staffing in all 72 counties.
Provides an additional $750,000 over the biennium for crisis team training for law enforcement agencies.
Provides a 15 percent increase in reimbursement rates for outpatient mental health and substance use disorder services.
Provides a 20 percent increase in reimbursement rates for child and adolescent day treatment.
Provides a 5 percent increase in services received from opioid treatment providers.
Fully funds the Wisconsin Health Care Stability Plan to help reduce premiums paid by individuals who purchase insurance on the individual market.
Provides $250,000 annually to increase the maximum amount of funding provided under the Alzheimer's Family and Caregiver Support Program.Safe and Just Communities
Provides $1 million over the biennium to expand career and technical education opportunities at correctional facilities.
Provides $200,000 annually to expand the Windows to Work Program.
Provides an additional 7.4 assistant district attorney positions.
Expands the Treatment Alternatives and Diversion Program by $2.5 million in fiscal year 2022-23.
Provides $100,000 annually for a sexual assault victim services grant.
Provides $455,000 in fiscal year 2021-22 to purchase equipment for the State Crime Laboratories to test for synthetic drugs and drug analogs.
Provides $227,400 annually to purchase and maintain body-worn cameras for conservation wardens.
Provides $700,000 in fiscal year 2021-22 to purchase and maintain body-worn cameras for State Patrol troopers.
Provides $2 million for grants to law enforcement agencies to purchase body-worn cameras.What’s Best for Kids
Provides two-thirds funding to our schools for the first time in two decades.
Invests an additional $408 million in general school aids, building upon the $330 million increase in the last budget.
Provides $89 million over the biennium to increase reimbursement for students with disabilities in fiscal year 2022-23.
Invests an additional $19 million in school mental health programs.
Doubles state resources for gifted and talented students.
Fully funds high cost transportation aid and increases the number of districts eligible to receive it.
Increases the number of small, rural school districts eligible for sparsity aid.
Increases funding by $600,000 annually for the Housing Assistance Program to provide housing and support services to move more persons and families experiencing homelessness to independent living.
Ensures child care is more affordable and accessible for parents by providing over $46 million Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in fiscal year 2021-22 and over $53 million TANF in fiscal year 2022-23 for a targeted rate increase to bring all maximum reimbursement rates in Wisconsin Shares within the 65th percentile of market rates.
Provides nearly $2.4 million TANF in fiscal year 2021-22 and over $4.8 million TANF in fiscal year 2022-23 to raise kinship care monthly rates from $254 to $300, consistent with the increase for foster care level 1 rates.
Increases funding to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America – Wisconsin Chapter by $132,000 TANF in each year to expand the Be GREAT: Graduate Program to two additional clubs in Wausau and Sheboygan to support Wisconsin’s youth in achieving academic success.
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.
