News
September 23, 2024 | By Benjamin Yount
Policy Issues
State Budget

Gov. Evers Expects Same Budget Arguments In 2025

By Benjamin Yount

Wisconsin’s governor expects more of the same when it comes time to pass a new state budget.

Gov. Tony Evers told the Wisconsin Counties Association on Monday that he is preparing a new budget proposal for the new year.

“I anticipate that the next budget, which we’re beginning working on that now, will have the same arguments. And even though I think the Assembly will look more Democratic than it has in the past, we are a purple state,” Evers said. “We're going to be fighting and making sure that Wisconsin is in a good place.”

Evers is planning to ask the Republican legislature to spend more money.

“We have to figure out child care,” Evers said to a round of applause from county leaders. “There's all sorts of reasons why, but at the end of the day we have to be able to provide child care and a reasonable rate in order for people to work.”

Evers didn’t say just what “figuring out” child care means, or how much it will cost.

The governor does have a price tag for his other main budget priority. Evers told the Counties Association that he, once again, wants to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into the University of Wisconsin.

“One of the things that concerns me is our University of Wisconsin System is not in the best financial health,” Evers added. “I do believe we're going to have to do something there. We have a proposal out there now that the Board of Regents and I both agree on.”

That proposal would send $855 million more to the UW in the next two-year state budget. The UW currently gets $1.3 billion in state aid.

Evers said he expects Wisconsin to continue to have a split government in Madison. The legislature has been controlled by Republicans for more than a decade now, but the Republican’s majority may change because of new legislative maps that will see their first election this November.

Evers claimed that a split state government has actually helped him as governor.

“We're purple state,” Evers said. “I think they'll be some even more changes with fair maps, but at the end of the day we will still be a purple state. And to me that means governing from the middle, and not the edges. And we've done that. You know, I've signed lots of bills.”

Evers said last year’s shared revenue plan and the agreement to keep the Brewers in Milwaukee are the most well known examples.

Evers has proposed three budgets during his six years as governor, and every single one of them has been substantially changed by the Republican-controlled legislature.

Republicans at the Capitol have said they expect to do the same again next year.

Evers will deliver his budget plan to lawmakers after the new legislature is sworn-in in January. Lawmakers will then use the spring to craft their own spending plan for the state.

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