Walker: Budget Deal With Lawmakers Reached ‘In Principle’

Gov. Scott Walker said Tuesday state lawmakers are nearing agreement on the delayed 2017-2019 state budget.

Speaking with reporters in Madison, Walker said legislative leaders have reached consensus “in principle” on issues including transportation funding.

“There’s a few little details (remaining), but nothing that will stop or impede the process,” Walker said.

The state budget is almost two months past its June 30 deadline.

The governor said lawmakers have lowered transportation bonding levels from the $700 million supported by the state Senate in recent weeks. He also said negotiations currently include a partial repeal of the state’s personal property tax, a tax some businesses pay on their equipment, and a possible new fee for electric vehicles in Wisconsin.

Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, who co-chairs the budget committee, agreed with Walker that a “framework” exists for the completed budget. However, he emphasized some details still need to be ironed out.

“There’s been discussion — and good discussion,” Nygren said. “General conversations have got us to a place where we’re pretty close, but to say we have a deal right now I think would be premature.”

Nygren told the Associated Press on Tuesday that the fee on electric vehicles under negotiation would be about $100 a year and the cut to the personal property tax would amount to about $73 million. He said lawmakers are still debating income eligibility changes for Wisconsin’s statewide private school voucher program in budget negotiations.

Walker said he expects to sign the budget by the end of summer.

Walker’s comments on the state spending plan came during an event meant to highlight the state’s $3 billion tax incentive package for tech manufacturer Foxconn, focusing on the effect the manufacturer could have on Wisconsin’s health care industry.

Walker was joined by University of Wisconsin Hospital doctors and other university leaders.

He called the planned factory that would build liquid crystal display screens a “remarkable opportunity” to keep college graduates in the state and help start-up businesses as well as existing ones that could become part of the electronics company’s supply chain.

The Walker event came hours before the Legislature’s budget committee planned a public hearing in Sturtevant, in southeast Wisconsin, near where the plant is expected to locate.

The Assembly passed a $3 billion tax incentive plan last week on a bipartisan vote.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 to include original reporting from WPR. Chuck Quirmbach also contributed reporting.