MONROE - As a member of the Joint Finance Committee, newly elected Wisconsin state Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, will keep close tabs on the new state budget he'll receive from Gov. Scott Walker on Feb. 3.
Until then, he told Monroe residents Monday during his first listening session as senator that he's pleased with the ongoing deficit drop in the state's general fund, now sitting at $1.3 billion - down about $1.6 billion from the $3 billion deficit Walker inherited three years ago
The numbers were reported in the state's 2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, which was released in December.
Marklein, a certified public accountant, told the 10 residents on hand at the Behring Senior Center that being a good steward of the state's dollars will be one of his top-two priorities during the upcoming legislative session.
"I'll be spending a lot of time on the budget, whether I like it or not," said Marklein, who was joined by state Rep. Todd Novak, R-Dodgeville, who replaced Marklein in the Assembly.
Marklein said it would be a good idea to have a CPA present for budget matters.
Finding dollars to continue the deficit-dwindling trend would be a challenge, noting that 1.2 million residents in the state are on Medicaid, or about one in five people.
"That's gobbling up a lot of revenue," he said.
Continued fiscal responsibility will be the key, he said.
His other focus will be on the state's transportation fund - a topic that hits close to home for Monroe with its many state roads in the vicinity.
"We need to get more money out here," he said in reference to the western half of the state. "I hope we can be smarter about how we spend our transportation fund. I've seen projects over-designed and all dolled up to excess, especially on the east side of Milwaukee. One bid I saw included Christmas lights. I'm a good Christian and all, but do we really need that? Someone was just trying to win over the approval of a municipality. That's not what our gas tax and registration fees should go toward.
"Meanwhile, back here toward Fennimore, there are roads we can hardly drive on."
Among the proposals being bandied about to beef up the transportation fund is a surcharge for vehicle miles traveled, Marklein said, but he doubted he'd support such a thing.
"It might make sense in a place (in the center of the state) like Stevens Point, but what if you live in Monroe and commute to Freeport?" he said. "Much of that drive would not be on Wisconsin roads.
"But I'm open to any idea."
Federal money for roads will be tight, he added, and pointed to an estimated pricetag of $3 billion for updating Milwaukee's massive Zoo Interchange.
Added Novak, "When I saw the map for the projects for the state, there were all these red lines around the Milwaukee area and maybe one on this side of the state."
The transportation fund's management will be under the spotlight now that voters in November abolished the ability for the state to transfer money from it for other needs.
Marklein represents the state's District 17, which includes Monroe.
Until then, he told Monroe residents Monday during his first listening session as senator that he's pleased with the ongoing deficit drop in the state's general fund, now sitting at $1.3 billion - down about $1.6 billion from the $3 billion deficit Walker inherited three years ago
The numbers were reported in the state's 2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, which was released in December.
Marklein, a certified public accountant, told the 10 residents on hand at the Behring Senior Center that being a good steward of the state's dollars will be one of his top-two priorities during the upcoming legislative session.
"I'll be spending a lot of time on the budget, whether I like it or not," said Marklein, who was joined by state Rep. Todd Novak, R-Dodgeville, who replaced Marklein in the Assembly.
Marklein said it would be a good idea to have a CPA present for budget matters.
Finding dollars to continue the deficit-dwindling trend would be a challenge, noting that 1.2 million residents in the state are on Medicaid, or about one in five people.
"That's gobbling up a lot of revenue," he said.
Continued fiscal responsibility will be the key, he said.
His other focus will be on the state's transportation fund - a topic that hits close to home for Monroe with its many state roads in the vicinity.
"We need to get more money out here," he said in reference to the western half of the state. "I hope we can be smarter about how we spend our transportation fund. I've seen projects over-designed and all dolled up to excess, especially on the east side of Milwaukee. One bid I saw included Christmas lights. I'm a good Christian and all, but do we really need that? Someone was just trying to win over the approval of a municipality. That's not what our gas tax and registration fees should go toward.
"Meanwhile, back here toward Fennimore, there are roads we can hardly drive on."
Among the proposals being bandied about to beef up the transportation fund is a surcharge for vehicle miles traveled, Marklein said, but he doubted he'd support such a thing.
"It might make sense in a place (in the center of the state) like Stevens Point, but what if you live in Monroe and commute to Freeport?" he said. "Much of that drive would not be on Wisconsin roads.
"But I'm open to any idea."
Federal money for roads will be tight, he added, and pointed to an estimated pricetag of $3 billion for updating Milwaukee's massive Zoo Interchange.
Added Novak, "When I saw the map for the projects for the state, there were all these red lines around the Milwaukee area and maybe one on this side of the state."
The transportation fund's management will be under the spotlight now that voters in November abolished the ability for the state to transfer money from it for other needs.
Marklein represents the state's District 17, which includes Monroe.