Walker Says Total Elimination Of Borrowing For Roads Projects Unlikely

Gov. Scott Walker says he thinks state lawmakers will reduce new borrowing for road projects, but he doubts that they’ll completely eliminate it.

Walker’s transportation budget would increase borrowing by $1.3 billion, an amount lawmakers have said is too high. Walker has said he won’t support any new taxes or fees to lower that bonding, which led Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to suggest Wednesday that lawmakers might get rid of new bonding altogether. That would mean $1.3 billion worth of road projects delayed or cut.

Walker told reporters that outcome was unlikely.

“I think in the end, realistically, what’s likely to come to our desk is a combination of both — that there would be some reduction in bonding and some delays in projects, but not an overall reduction,” said Walker.

Republican leaders say transportation funding is the main issue holding up the state budget, which they hope to pass this month.