Madison Reporter

As debate over the state’s next budget picks up steam, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is leaving little doubt about where his focus lies.

“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 recently tweeted. “Our next budget will invest in getting our kids, educators, and schools the support and resources they need to succeed.”

In one of his latest stops on his “Doing the Right Thing” tour, Evers was greeted by as many 150 people at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s STEM Innovation Center for the tour's third session. The issue of how the funds included in the new two-year budget should be spent was at the top of the docket.

According to The Green Bay Press Gazette, Evers also spent considerable time with the residents addressing issues that ranged from education, health care, the economy and the environment.

Those pushing for early education, K-12 and college never deviated from their agenda of pushing for more investment from the state in those areas, 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. Members in that camp also made it known that they want the free statewide school meals that were introduced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to become a permanent staple after the program expired 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.