By now, I am sure all of you have heard about Wisconsin's $5.4 billion state budget deficit going into the next budget, which will start July 1, 2009. This budget deficit is of epic proportion. The slowed economy has slowed sales tax collections. And some of the bad choices regarding tax breaks made over the past 10 years have put us in this very difficult situation.
Of course everyone says to CUT state programs - many, many projects will definitely be cut. Unfortunately, the past few budgets have been bad, as well, so there really is no fat to trim. We are left with a state budget that is bare bones funding of school, roads, prisons, universities, aid to local governments and health care. Significantly reducing funding to any of these state services will be very difficult. Many of us think that we don't see and feel the State of Wisconsin very often, but truly we all do. When our streets are plowed, when our garbage is collected, when we drive down a highway or city street, when our kids go to school, when our grandparents are in a nursing home, when our parents need medication, when a crime is investigated and a criminal held to justice; all of these things and thousands more are a part of state government.
Where will we cut? What will happen when we do? I don't have all the answers, but I want to hear from you. If you receive SeniorCare medication assistance, need state highways maintained for your business, have a business in a TIF district, have kids in school, go to the University, have family in a nursing home, or even just have to renew your driver license; call my office and tell me how cuts to the state will affect you. As we limp along through this budget process, it is important for me to hear from you.
Even if we make deep cuts to everything that is supported by the state, it would not be enough to fill the budget deficit going into next biennium.
It is my hope that we will get federal assistance on a number of projects for Wisconsin. Second, we will have to consider consolidation of state services wherever we can. State and local governments will have to be smaller. As a last resort, we will need to look at every tax exemption and consider closing those exemptions. Everything from legal services to advertisement exemptions should be on the table. Getting through the budget without a general tax increase will be very difficult, but it is a priority for me.
There will be a lot of posturing and a lot of criticism and that is part of politics. The challenge to all legislators is to be a part of the solution for their constituents. Please keep in touch and as always contact me anytime at (888) 549-0027 or (608) 266-6670 or via e-mail at sen.erpenbach@legis.wisconsin.gov.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, serves the 27th State Senate District.
Of course everyone says to CUT state programs - many, many projects will definitely be cut. Unfortunately, the past few budgets have been bad, as well, so there really is no fat to trim. We are left with a state budget that is bare bones funding of school, roads, prisons, universities, aid to local governments and health care. Significantly reducing funding to any of these state services will be very difficult. Many of us think that we don't see and feel the State of Wisconsin very often, but truly we all do. When our streets are plowed, when our garbage is collected, when we drive down a highway or city street, when our kids go to school, when our grandparents are in a nursing home, when our parents need medication, when a crime is investigated and a criminal held to justice; all of these things and thousands more are a part of state government.
Where will we cut? What will happen when we do? I don't have all the answers, but I want to hear from you. If you receive SeniorCare medication assistance, need state highways maintained for your business, have a business in a TIF district, have kids in school, go to the University, have family in a nursing home, or even just have to renew your driver license; call my office and tell me how cuts to the state will affect you. As we limp along through this budget process, it is important for me to hear from you.
Even if we make deep cuts to everything that is supported by the state, it would not be enough to fill the budget deficit going into next biennium.
It is my hope that we will get federal assistance on a number of projects for Wisconsin. Second, we will have to consider consolidation of state services wherever we can. State and local governments will have to be smaller. As a last resort, we will need to look at every tax exemption and consider closing those exemptions. Everything from legal services to advertisement exemptions should be on the table. Getting through the budget without a general tax increase will be very difficult, but it is a priority for me.
There will be a lot of posturing and a lot of criticism and that is part of politics. The challenge to all legislators is to be a part of the solution for their constituents. Please keep in touch and as always contact me anytime at (888) 549-0027 or (608) 266-6670 or via e-mail at sen.erpenbach@legis.wisconsin.gov.
- Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, serves the 27th State Senate District.
