Evers to boost public safety funding
Governor proposes $105 million if reelected
MADISON – Gov. Tony Evers is proposing a $105 million plan aimed at boosting funding for public safety efforts in local municipalities as he enters the last month of a reelection race focused on crime.
The Democratic incumbent on Monday released details of a two-year state budget plan he would propose if he returns to the governor’s office in 2023, calling for an 8% increase to a funding stream local government officials could use to pay for essential services, amounting to a boost of $91.4 million.
Evers also said he would propose an additional $10 million in funding for public safety costs that would be distributed using a formula relying on a community’s population, and $3.5 million in federal funds largely to pay for State Patrol officers’ overtime costs.
“Time and again, I’ve worked to increase funding for shared revenue to help local governments fund important services, including our local police officers, firefighters, and EMS providers, and time and again, the Republicans in the Legislature have refused,” Evers said in a statement.
“For the last decade, Republicans have forced communities and local partners to do more with less as costs for public services have gone up while state aid has been cut or held flat.”
Shared revenue funding has been held flat since 2012 and has dropped by 18% since 2001, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.
Groups representing local government officials praised the proposal.
“At a time of rising inflation and increased demand for services, local governments require additional state resources in order to maintain infrastructure, public safety investments, and human and social services. Public safety in particular has become increasingly difficult to support though current revenues, though specific needs vary across the state,” The Wisconsin Counties Association, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, and the Wisconsin Towns Association said in a joint statement.
“With insufficient funding for fire protection, EMS, and law enforcement services, every corner of the state is in need of assistance.”
Tim Michels, Evers’ Republican