2017-18 biennium budget passes and is signed

NEW RICHMOND — The Joint Finance Committee completed the Wisconsin State Budget for 2017-2018 a few weeks ago. The process then moved to votes on the Assembly floor which allowed Representative Rob Stafsholt to hear and give debate last week as the budget passed through the Assembly.

“As a first-term lawmaker, I have learned to have a great appreciation for the massive undertaking that is our state budget with a huge amount of moving parts,” Representative Stafsholt said. “This is a really tough vote because you are basically voting on many, many bills all wrapped up into one package that is difficult to divide out.  I think there are things in this budget that could have been better, but I also see there are some really great things in there that are good for people here in my district.”

Highlights of this budget include:

• The largest investment in public education in Wisconsin history including $639M for our classrooms and $6M in new money for special education and mental health services. It also creates lifetime licenses for teachers and administrators that complete 6 semesters of successful experience.

• Property taxes are lower than they were in 2010, 2014 and today.

• Elimination of an entire state tax without losing the benefits of that tax (Forestry Mill Tax).

• Giving Wisconsin an estimated $200M in a “rainy day fund” balance at the end of the 2017-2019 biennium for additional financial security for our state.

After announcing the 99 vetoes September 21, the Governor signed the biennial budget at Tullar Elementary school in Neenah.

Rep Stafsholt concluded with, “ As is usually the case on something this complex, I think there are a few ways in which this spending plan could have been better, however, I must applaud Governor Walker for signing into law a budget that accomplishes some of my primary goals when I first ran for office: holding down property taxes, protecting property rights, and investing in education. In my listening sessions I held after taking office, I heard time and time again that people wanted to make sure we have quality education for our children and I think this budget goes a long way towards ensuring that.”