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Evers Warns Agencies to Avoid Additional Spending in 2023-25 Budget Requests
By Dee Pettack | June 15, 2022
From WisPolitics.com …
Gov. Tony Evers is warning state agencies his directives will require most of them to avoid additional general purpose revenue spending in the 2023-25 state budget even with a record projected surplus.In a letter last week, Evers wrote the restriction also will extend to SEG-funded operations for the departments of Natural Resources and Transportation as well as the Wisconsin Lottery.Evers spent much of the letter touting the strength of the state budget, which is projected to have a $3.8 billion surplus at the end of the 2021-23 biennium.Evers noted “some economic uncertainty now amidst an ever-changing and unrelentingpandemic, an international crisis, and ongoing economic challenges around the globe.”“While I am optimistic our global and national economy will steady itself, it is appropriate that we exercise caution going forward in our current economic environment right now,” Evers wrote.Guvs issue the letters every two years to begin setting benchmarks for the budget process, which includes state agencies turning in their requests by Sept. 15. Evers had a similar directive in 2020 to begin the budget process. With the state then in the early stages of the pandemic, he told agencies to avoid asking for any new positions in addition to holding spending flat.Eight months later, he proposed a $3.2 billion increase in GPR spending with half of that proposed for K-12 education.In last week’s letter, Evers wrote he plans to “redouble our efforts to address issues that we hear about every day from our fellow citizens.” That includes providing a quality education, expanding Medicaid, reducing the cost of prescription drugs and ending the freeze on shared revenues by “providing our local governments with the necessary fiscal resources to keep their communities safe.” Evers also wrote tax credits and road funding will also be priorities.Read the letter here.
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