Last night, the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) completed its work on the budget with $3.4 BILLION in historic, broad-based tax relief. In one night, JFC voted to cut income, property, and main street taxes.
 
Almost $2.5 billion in income tax relief will be delivered to anyone with incomes over $24,000/$32,000 per year (individual/joint) most working adults. The typical working family will see an income tax cut of $900 this year, by reducing the income tax rate from 6.27% to 5.3%.
 
Republicans didn’t forget the property taxpayer, either. Under the budget passed by the JFC, property taxes will decrease on a typical family home by around $300. This objective is completed by the state funding approximately 68% of state school aid costs, a historic investment.
 
Finally, JFC eliminated the personal property tax, while making sure that other property taxes do not make up the difference. Among our neighboring states, only Michigan still collects a personal property tax. This tax has long been a thorn in the side of small businesses, who frequently pay more in accounting fees for the personal property tax than they pay in the actual personal property tax.
 
Flattening our income tax, lowering property taxes, and eliminating the personal property tax is a great way to finish out the budget.

 
If you live near Kenosha, you may have heard of the Kenosha STEM Innovation Center. This proposed redevelopment of the former AMC/Chrysler plant would help small businesses and minority-owned businesses, serve as a workforce training center, and help develop digital and entrepreneurial talent. It has the ability to help return that site to an economic hub.
 
While Governor Evers included bonding for this project in his $2.5 billion capital project, the Joint Finance Committee did not include the project in the budget. Like my Democratic colleagues in Kenosha, I was upset by this decision but hopeful other funding could be found.
 
Last week, Representative Kerkman and I sent a letter to Governor Evers, asking to him to use $9 million of the $2.5 billion in ARPA funds he has at his sole disposal for this project. Representative Kerkman and I believe this is the perfect use for ARPA. Unfortunately, Governor Evers wrote back saying that he would only use borrowing for this project, rejecting our request.
 
I wish I could say I’m surprised, but Evers refusal to consider using ARPA for the Kenosha STEM Innovation Center is par for the course. If he doesn’t get what he wants, he refuses to take other suggestions. He was slow to react seriously following last year’s riots, and now, he just turned his back on redeveloping Kenosha. He’s more interested in playing the blame game then helping. Using the ARPA funds just makes sense. By refusing, the Governor punishes Kenosha once again.

 

On Friday, June 18th, I spoke to Judicial Council members in the Senate Parlor.  The Judicial Council is a 21-member body whose principal statutory responsibilities are to study and make recommendations relating to: (1) court pleading, practice and procedure; and (2) organization, jurisdiction and methods of administration and operation of Wisconsin courts.  I have had the opportunity to serve as a member of the Judicial Council for more than six years.

On Thursday, June 17th, I testified on three bills that I co-authored before the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety.