MAPLE BLUFF (AP) - Gov. Scott Walker said in an interview Monday that he remains committed to lowering property taxes next year as he promised in his re-election campaign, even though the state faces a projected $2.2 billion state budget shortfall that will likely result in spending cuts and other money-saving moves.
Walker spoke to The Associated Press from the governor's mansion as he prepares to be sworn in for his second term on Jan. 5. Republicans return with even larger majorities in both the state Senate and Assembly, which should help Walker pursue his agenda while he also mulls a run for president in 2016.
Walker said many decisions have yet to be made about the budget, which he will submit to the Legislature likely in early February and that will be passed in late spring. He didn't spell out how he would pay for a property tax cut, or how much it would be, or explain how he would plug the shortfall, saying those details would come when he puts his budget forward.
He also declined to say whether he would support the gas tax increase and new fee for owners of hybrid and electric cars that were included in a $750 million tax and fee hike proposal from his Department of Transportation.
"It's a tight budget," Walker said. "We have to find ways to balance it all throughout the state budget."
The Democratic legislative leaders, Rep. Peter Barca and Sen. Jennifer Shilling, said Republicans should focus on helping the middle class.
"Rather than digging a deeper budget hole, we need to invest in education, worker training and economic infrastructure to create jobs and build toward a brighter future," Shilling said in a statement.
Walker said he is looking at merging and consolidating duties of a number of state agencies, including work done at his chief jobs agency, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. He's also looking at shuffling duties at the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, the Department of Safety and Professional Services and the Department of Financial Institutions.
While that proposal remains a work in progress, Walker was similarly vague about his plans for balancing the budget and delivering a property tax cut. He also didn't say whether public schools and the University of Wisconsin System would get the additional money they requested.
"That depends on where we're at at the tail end of the budget process," he said when asked if K-12 education would see an increase. And as for the UW System, Walker said he was looking at ways to give UW campuses more flexibility as a way to save money.
While Walker remains focused on cutting property taxes, it appears any income tax reduction will have to wait. He had promised during the campaign to cut both.
"We'll make sure that property taxes continue to go down," Walker said. "I don't know that there will be a specific proposal for a tax cut, at least immediately, on income."
Walker and the Republican-controlled Legislature cut taxes by about $2 billion during his first term, with a focus on both property and income taxes as well as manufacturing taxes. Because of those cuts, the typical homeowner will pay $141 less in property taxes this year than they did in 2010.
Walker spoke to The Associated Press from the governor's mansion as he prepares to be sworn in for his second term on Jan. 5. Republicans return with even larger majorities in both the state Senate and Assembly, which should help Walker pursue his agenda while he also mulls a run for president in 2016.
Walker said many decisions have yet to be made about the budget, which he will submit to the Legislature likely in early February and that will be passed in late spring. He didn't spell out how he would pay for a property tax cut, or how much it would be, or explain how he would plug the shortfall, saying those details would come when he puts his budget forward.
He also declined to say whether he would support the gas tax increase and new fee for owners of hybrid and electric cars that were included in a $750 million tax and fee hike proposal from his Department of Transportation.
"It's a tight budget," Walker said. "We have to find ways to balance it all throughout the state budget."
The Democratic legislative leaders, Rep. Peter Barca and Sen. Jennifer Shilling, said Republicans should focus on helping the middle class.
"Rather than digging a deeper budget hole, we need to invest in education, worker training and economic infrastructure to create jobs and build toward a brighter future," Shilling said in a statement.
Walker said he is looking at merging and consolidating duties of a number of state agencies, including work done at his chief jobs agency, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. He's also looking at shuffling duties at the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, the Department of Safety and Professional Services and the Department of Financial Institutions.
While that proposal remains a work in progress, Walker was similarly vague about his plans for balancing the budget and delivering a property tax cut. He also didn't say whether public schools and the University of Wisconsin System would get the additional money they requested.
"That depends on where we're at at the tail end of the budget process," he said when asked if K-12 education would see an increase. And as for the UW System, Walker said he was looking at ways to give UW campuses more flexibility as a way to save money.
While Walker remains focused on cutting property taxes, it appears any income tax reduction will have to wait. He had promised during the campaign to cut both.
"We'll make sure that property taxes continue to go down," Walker said. "I don't know that there will be a specific proposal for a tax cut, at least immediately, on income."
Walker and the Republican-controlled Legislature cut taxes by about $2 billion during his first term, with a focus on both property and income taxes as well as manufacturing taxes. Because of those cuts, the typical homeowner will pay $141 less in property taxes this year than they did in 2010.