Republicans Announce Deal with Evers on 'Transformational' Shared Revenue Bill

Friday, June 9th, 2023 -- 1:00 PM

(Bob Hague, WRN) Republican leaders and Governor Tony Evers have reached a deal on a shared revenue bill.

It will increase state funding for local governments and schools. Critically, it allows Milwaukee area leaders to raise sales taxes without a referendum, in order to pay down pension obligations. Representative Tony Kurz, “This is a good day for the state, to give Milwaukee the opportunity to correct years of mismanagement."

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, “We have an agreement on a transformational shared revenue deal, that will also have the largest expansion of school choice since the program was originally founded.”

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieux says it boosts public schools as well. “The biggest investment in public education ever in the state of Wisconsin. Over a billion dollars for public education.”

Tony Kurz continued, “We will allow the City of Milwaukee to take it to the common council, to a two thirds vote to raise their sales tax by two percentage points. That will raise approximately $184 million annually for the city. For the county, we will allow the county board once again a two thirds vote to increase their county sales tax by point 4% And that will generate approximately $76 million.”

The deal also includes historic investments in the state’s school choice program as well as public schools, and increases state shared revenue to local units of government. Republican leaders expect this compromise they reached with the Evers administration will pass and reach the governor’s desk for his signature.

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