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Optimism about Ag Road funds as Wisconsin legislature begins work on budget details

The Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance gets down to details on the next biennial budget Thursday.

Farmer and Assembly Ag Committee Chair Travis Tranel tells Brownfield the state spends about 100-billion dollars over the two year period, but Governor Tony Evers has proposed spending 120 billion. “I think most people realize a twenty-percent increase in spending is pretty unrealistic because at the end of the day, the only way the state can get that money is by taking it from taxpayers.”

Tranel says the Governor supports programs that are in some cases justifiable and could be important and appreciated, but the reality is the state cannot afford a twenty percent increase in spending, and he thinks most Wisconsinites know that.

One area Tranel remains optimistic about is continuation of the Agricultural Road Improvement Program, which in the last budget dedicated 150 million dollars to local road infrastructure. “I’m excited about it because people are happy with how the program functions and the reality is these projects haven’t been constructed yet, so I think people are happy that we’re sticking money into rural infrastructure even though they haven’t seen it.”

Tranel says he was surprised that with the Governor’s proposed spending increases, he actually proposed cutting ARIP funding down to 50-million dollars.

Tranel says the budget process will be different this time because nearly everything is being challenged in court, and the State Supreme Court will likely side with the Governor, like they did when allowing the partial veto that created a 400-year school tax increase. “The Governor only has the ability to line-item veto if there is an appropriation, so what you’re likely to see is all of the policy and verbage passed in one bill, and then the funding for all of those bills to pass in another separate bill.”

Tranel says crafting the budget will be a challenge, but they won’t negate their responsibility to protect taxpayers.

AUDIO: State Representative and Ag Committee Chairman Travis Tranel (R-49th District) discusses the likely state budget process and his concerns with Brownfield’s Larry Lee.