Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is aiming to send a clear and sharpened message through the state’s next budget agenda.
“Budgets are about priorities, and that’s why building our next biennial budget begins—as it always does for me—with doing what’s best for our kids,” Evers tweeted. “Our next budget will invest in getting our kids, educators, and schools the support and resources they need to succeed.”
As part of the state’s “Doing the Right Thing” tour, roughly 150 people met with Evers at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s STEM Innovation Center for the tour’s third session where the issue of how the funds in the new two-year budget should be spent was front and center.
The Green Bay Press Gazette adds Evers also spent time with the residents that turned out addressing such issues as education, health care, the economy and the environment.
Those pushing for early education, K-12 and college all spent much of the gathering advocating for increased investment by the state, with budget suggestions including tax- revenue limits for public schools, funding early child care and more funding for special needs programs including special education reimbursements. Advocates also want the free statewide school meals that were introduced during the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic to become a permanent staple after expiring earlier this year.
Throughout the day, Evers seemed open to much of what was presented on the education front, at one point sharing with those in attendance: “We don’t expect our school districts to have to go to referendum every two years and roll the dice as to whether they have enough money.”
Earlier this month, Evers held a similar session in Kenosha as well as a statewide virtual session. Additional locations and dates are expected to be announced in 2023.
