State Assembly Republicans Unveil Changes to Plan that Will Fund Local Governments

Friday, May 19th, 2023 -- 12:00 PM

(By Anya van Wagtendonk, Wisconsin Public Radio) Republicans in the state Assembly unveiled changes to a sweeping plan to fund local governments Wednesday, including a new provision that would boost state funding for many communities throughout Wisconsin.

But, according to Anya van Wagtendonk with the Wisconsin Public Radio, other elements of the original GOP bill remained intact, including restrictions on how local governments can spend state funding and a requirement that Milwaukee and Milwaukee County ask voters for permission before they're allowed to raise local sales taxes.

Republicans released the plan the same day Democratic Gov. Tony Evers released a statement saying he was optimistic the two sides would strike a bipartisan compromise. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said many of the changes in the bill were aimed at addressing Evers' concerns but that it was time to move the plan "across the finish line."

"We are done negotiating," Vos told reporters assembled outside the Capitol late Wednesday afternoon. The new proposal would give most cities a 15 percent increase in state funding, up from 10 percent in the original bill.

The notable exception would be Milwaukee, which would receive a 10 percent increase. Republicans said they gave Milwaukee a lower percentage increase because the city and county would be able to increase sales taxes.

A provision to require Milwaukee to reinstate police presence in public schools remained in the latest proposal, with a new caveat that those school resource officers will have to receive 40 hours of training.

The latest version of the plan would also let public health officers close businesses for up to 30 days in the event of a pandemic or other public health emergency, or up to 60 days with a vote from the local governing board. Under the original Republican plan, those closures could only last 14 days.

"We feel like the bill that's coming forward is the result of … good faith negotiations," said Vos. "We are not going to take changes. We are not going to change the bill substantially." The bill passed out of the Assembly late Wednesday night, by a vote of 56-36.

Three Republicans joined all Democrats in voting against the plan.

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