After months of negotiations, Wisconsin’s Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican leaders in the State Legislature on Monday announced a $1.8 billion deal to provide tax relief and rebate checks to Wisconsinites while also investing hundreds of millions of dollars into education using the state surplus.
The bipartisan package invests over $600 million in Wisconsin’s K-12 schools, including providing the largest increase to the state’s special education reimbursement rate in state history to attain 50 percent, as well as investing over $300 million in general school aids, according to a press release from the governor’s office. The deal also provides tens of millions of dollars in statewide property tax relief through Wisconsin Technical College System aid, makes direct payments to Wisconsin’s working families who are struggling to keep up with rising costs, and eliminates state income tax on tipped and overtime income.
“We’ve proven time and again that, here in Wisconsin, we’re capable of finding common ground and working together to get good things done for the people of our state, and the bipartisan compromise we’re announcing today is yet another example,” said Gov. Evers in a statement. “I’ve always said that what’s best for our kids is what’s best for our state— it’s why it’s been important to me throughout this process that we make sure our kids and our schools have the resources they need while also lowering property taxes and giving working families a little breathing room in their household budgets.
The agreed-upon package will provide over $850 million in direct support to more than 3 million Wisconsinites. Each individual who filed an individual income tax return for tax year 2024, and for which at least 90 percent of their income is Wisconsin income, will be eligible to receive a $300 refund, while married couples who file jointly will receive $600, or their net tax liability, whichever is less.
“Republicans have fought hard to control spending, and now we have a sizable budget surplus,” Speaker Robin Vos said. “We’re sending it back to help families with the pressure of increasing costs, reward hard work, and to continue investing in schools to help stabilize rising property taxes.”
