Wisconsin Building Commission Rejects Evers' $4.1 Billion Spending Plan

The Wisconsin State Building Commission has deadlocked on Governor Tony Evers' $4.1 billion capital projects proposal, sending it to the GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee without a recommendation. Republican lawmakers, led by Senate President Mary Felzkowski, expressed concerns over the proposed $3.85 billion in new bonding, stating that it exceeds the combined bonding of the last five capital budgets and called for more stakeholder input. Evers’ plan includes significant projects across various sectors, such as $1.6 billion for the University of Wisconsin System and $634 million for the Department of Corrections, aimed at addressing deferred maintenance and infrastructure needs. The commission's split vote reflects a continuing pattern of Republican opposition to Evers' budget requests since he took office in 2019. Some GOP members indicated that while they recognize the value of the projects, they seek further discussion and consideration of other state budget priorities. The deadlock marks the fourth consecutive instance where the commission has failed to recommend Evers' capital budget, emphasizing ongoing partisan divisions in state governance.