(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ $4.1 biennial billion capital budget includes recommendations for $325 million toward a plan to realign the state’s correctional institutions, including closing the Green Bay Correctional Institution in 2029 and rehabilitating the Waupun Correctional Institution.
The proposal also includes $1.6 billion in capital improvement projects across the University of Wisconsin system.
Republican leaders in the Wisconsin Legislature have called Evers’ budget proposal a “financial disaster” while Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam estimated that it includes $3 billion in tax increases.
The proposal would spend down $4 billion of the state’s expected $4.3 billion surplus if it is enacted after having more than a $7 billion surplus last budget season, according to Wisconsin Policy Forum.
“These investments are critical to not only address our state’s aging infrastructure but build for our state’s future, whether it’s at our UW System, supporting our veterans, protecting our valuable natural resources, or modernizing our correctional institutions to improve community safety across our state,” Evers said.
The spending includes demolishing and replacing the Mosse Humanities Building at UW-Madison, completing the Prairie Springs Science Center at UW-La Crosse and changing former hospital buildings into a Health Sciences hub at UW-Milwaukee.
The proposal includes a $137.5 million allocation for the renovation of UW-Oshkosh’s Polk Learning Commons.
“UW-Oshkosh graduates are more likely to stay and work in our region, which means investing in UW-Oshkosh is an investment in the Fox Valley workforce. This project ensures that UW-Oshkosh remains an attractive option for prospective students,” said State Sen. Kristin Dassler-Alfheim, who met with Governor Evers to discuss the importance of the project for the Fox Valley.
The spending proposal also includes $137 million in essential upgrades to Wisconsin veterans homes and a future upgrade and expansion of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.
Another proposal involves $195 million for health services facilities statewide, including renovating the food service building at Central Wisconsin Center and upgrading utility infrastructure at the Mendota and Winnebago Mental Health Institutions.
Evers said that Republican leadership has blocked prior proposals, leading to a $13 billion backlog in state infrastructure needs, with $3.4 billion in critical high-priority needs.
“We can’t afford to kick the can down the road on key infrastructure projects across our state, most especially as the cost of building materials may only get more expensive with each day of delay due to potential tariff taxes and trade wars,” Evers said. “We must take the important steps necessary to invest in building a 21st-century infrastructure, workforce, and economy, and I am hopeful that these recommendations will receive bipartisan support to get these projects done that communities across our state are depending on.”
Evers proposed spending $1.2 billion in the state’s All Agency program to fund small to mid-sized maintenance and repair projects across all state agencies.
In addition, he proposed funding $406 million in the Minor Facilities Renewal programs for the Department of Corrections, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, including almost $230 million for the UW System.
