Legislative Fiscal Bureau
Coverage of Legislative Fiscal Bureau in the Nexus archive.
- Budget committee releases funds for agency that aids people with disabilities seeking work
The Wisconsin Legislature's budget committee approved $7 million in state funds to address a waiting list of over 7,000 people for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), which supports individuals with disabilities entering the workforce. The committee allocated $600,000 for the first year and $6.4 million for the second year, aiming to close the waitlist by June 2027 after a partisan debate over funding levels.
- Beyond the finger-pointing, the real casualties of the failed surplus deal are Wisconsin kids
A proposed deal to boost Wisconsin special education funding and cut property taxes collapsed after advocates discovered the funding guarantees were not as promised, leading to criticism of the plan's tax giveaways and insufficient long-term solutions for school funding. The agreement, which included $300 million in general school aid and an $870 million income tax rebate, was projected to create a $3 billion state deficit, with critics arguing it prioritized tax cuts over addressing systemic school budget shortfalls.
- Most Wisconsinites say they wanted failed surplus deal; analysts projected it would lead to deficit
A Marquette Law School poll found 80% of Wisconsinites believed a budget surplus bill should have passed, though it failed in the Senate amid concerns about a projected $2.95 billion deficit by 2027-29. The bill, backed by Gov. Tony Evers and GOP leaders, aimed to reduce property taxes, boost special education funding, and provide tax rebates.