Alliance outlines priorities in state budget

Approaching July 5 deadline requires action by Governor’s office

Now that the Wisconsin legislature has sent the state budget to Governor Evers, he has six days (not including Sunday, but including the Fourth of July) to either approve the budget as-is, line-item veto portions of it or veto it entirely.

The budget includes important priorities that have been outlined by the Waukesha County Business Alliance’s policy committees. Alliance staff communicated those priorities to the Governor’s office last week, including investments in transportation funding and K-12 education, as well as the proposed cuts to income taxes.

• Workforce development is the number one issue facing Waukesha County, the region and our state. An Alliance survey found that more than 85 percent of Waukesha County employers plan to expand their workforce in the next three years, yet 82 percent are unable to find enough qualified workers. The Alliance is committed to developing, identifying and supporting policy solutions that strengthen our region’s talent pipeline. Recognizing that high quality schools are critical to developing educated citizens and a strong future workforce, the Alliance is focused on supporting Waukesha County students in being both college and career ready and helping families and educators understand job opportunities in the marketplace today and in the future. Investments in education, including K-12 and the Wisconsin Technical College System made within this budget demonstrate an encouraging shared concern for workforce development amidst an aging workforce.
• It’s time for Wisconsin to create a long-term transportation plan that aligns transportation project priorities with predictable funding to ensure projects are completed in a timely manner. Access to a robust transportation system is consistently one of the top issues we hear from businesses. Waukesha County’s economic vitality depends on modern, safe and efficient infrastructure. In particular, we recognize the need for a sustainable funding solution to meet the critical transportation infrastructure needs of our state. The effective flow of goods, services and people is fundamental to business growth and a vibrant economy. The Alliance has long advocated for statewide, sustainable, long-term transportation funding solutions and feel that the proposed investments in this budget are a good starting point.
• The Alliance advocates for tax and regulatory measures that promote business expansion and retention and allow Wisconsin to be nationally and globally competitive. The income tax cut in the budget helps to make Wisconsin a great place to live, work and play.

Read more about the state budget process here and here and more about the Alliance’s 2019 policy priorities here.