Hello, I’m State Senator Joan Ballweg. I represent Wisconsin’s 14th State Senate District, located in central Wisconsin.
I have been hard at work with my colleagues in the state legislature and my fellow members of the budget writing committee to create a budget that is good for all of Wisconsin. The budget process began in February with the Governor introducing his budget proposal to the legislature. Since the Governor’s address, we have been busy working to understand his proposal, meeting with our constituents to learn about their funding requests, and holding public hearings across the state to learn about the budget that will be best for all of Wisconsin.
Last week, May 2nd and May 4th, the Joint Committee on Finance started executive sessions on the Wisconsin State Budget. The committee began our executive sessions by removing non-fiscal policy from the Governor’s proposal, and starting from the adjusted base budget. Starting the budget from the base does not mean that the legislature is cutting programs, rather we are starting at the funding levels of the second year of the last budget, and building the budget from there.
One of the actions the committee took on May 2nd was to approve standard budget adjustments and remove non-fiscal policy – because the budget should be all about the numbers. These adjustments allow for continued function of the state government and provide some increases due to inflation. On May 4th the committee voted on several agencies’ budget including the Department of Financial Institutions, the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board, the Historical Society and more.
Over the course of May and June, the committee will continue to meet and vote on agencies’ budgets. Stay tuned throughout the committee’s upcoming meetings to see the work that goes into creating a responsible budget that funds the priorities of Wisconsinites, and keeps the state a great place to live, work and play.
Thanks for listening. Have a great Wisconsin week!
Video: https://youtu.be/5wsLxhYQUr8
