From Beverly Pestel 

Richland Center

To the Editor:

“The budget is a statement of your values,” this comment made recently by Secretary of State, Sarah Godlewski, has stuck with me: In February, Governor Evers as required by law, submitted a budget for 2025-2027 and designated 2025 as “The Year of the Kid.” Republican lawmakers immediately declared this budget “dead on arrival.” Given this, it is worth examining what the priorities of the Governor’s budget are and compare them to our values for our kids.

To begin with, we enter this budget year with a $4.3 billion surplus in the general fund and $1.9 billion in the rainy-day fund.

Here is some of what is in the Governor’s budget:

●  $3.15 billion for K-12 education, this includes increasing the per-pupil funding for public schools, additional support for economically disadvantaged students, support for literacy initiatives, raising the special education reimbursement, and investing in mental health support in schools. He also proposes to cap vouchers that draw funds out of our public schools. How does that compare to your values for our kids — much less our value of not having to continue to vote for school referendums that increase our property taxes?

●  $856 million for the University of Wisconsin System to correct disinvestment of the UW System over many years that has led to the closure of six two-year campuses including UW-Richland. UW System President, Jay Rothman has stated clearly that without this funding more schools like UW-Baraboo Sauk County would close. Is making sure our young people have access to the affordable education necessary to pursue their career goals something you value?

●  $440 million to support the child care industry by subsiding providers with the Child Care Counts program. Is supporting young families with children by providing affordable childcare something you value for them and our communities?

●  Finally, the Governor is proposing nearly $2 billion in tax cuts for us while raising taxes on the wealthiest Wisconsinites. Does adjusting the tax code to make the wealthiest join us in paying their fair share of taxes to support state and community needs sound like something you value?

If these are things you value, they should not be “dead on arrival.” Contact your Representatives and the Joint Finance Committee and let them know what your values are to make sure that our next state budget is a statement of your values. Email: budget.comments@legis.wisconsin.gov or go to Joint Committee on Finance Public Comment Website