Hearing from residents in the 93rd Assembly District over the last few months about what their priorities should be in the upcoming state budget, they advised me to reject Gov. Evers' planned $2 billion in tax increases and government growth and instead focus on a smart budget that invested in our region's priorities. These priorities include repairing roads, lowering taxes, and investing in rural schools. The budget that was sent to the governor before his creative vetoes demonstrated that all of these key priorities could be met while giving considerable tax relief to the hard-working people of western Wisconsin.

Unfortunately, the governor utilized his veto power to raise taxes on our state's middle-class households at a time when tax relief is most needed by Wisconsin families. Furthermore, keep a vigilant eye out in the future since he used his veto pen to permanently raise property taxes for the next 400 years.

Despite these vetoes, the budget continues to invest in what is vital to our community. First, the budget continues to make important improvements in our local roadways while depending less on borrowing to pay for them, resulting in long-term savings. The budget also invests directly into our communities through programs like the Local Road Improvement Program and general transportation aids. In addition, a new Agricultural Road Improvement Program was established to assist in funding agricultural roads so that we can continue to get items from the farm to our kitchen tables and beyond.

This budget also completes two of western Wisconsin's most significant workforce development opportunities, the replacement of UW-Eau Claire Science Hall and UW-Stout Heritage Hall. Replacing Phillips Science Hall, which was out of date when I was a student in the 1970’s, will allow our outstanding students to work in cutting-edge laboratories and help the University of Eau Claire maintain its national leadership in undergraduate research. Furthermore, by investing in our hospitality and tourism, mental health and wellness, child care, education, and manufacturing businesses, UW-Stout’s Heritage Hall replacement will help our area tackle future workforce needs.

I'm thrilled that this budget includes historic investments in our rural schools while also providing a 50% increase in our state's Youth Apprenticeship program. In 2023, over 200 students from the 93rd District will be enrolled in this program, with over 158 organizations hiring them. Among other things, these students are studying architecture, food and natural resources, health sciences, information technology, manufacturing, and transportation. In addition to actual on-the-job training and associated classroom instruction, these students earned $5.32 in salaries for every $1 invested by the state in their YA education.

There are many other components of the budget that I look forward to addressing and providing more information about in future articles that will explain how it will affect our area over the next two years and beyond. If there is an area you would like to know more about or have questions about the budget, please feel to call my office at 888-534-0093 or email me at Rep.Petryk@legis.wisconsin.gov