State Representative Andrew Hysell says Wisconsin’s failed surplus package should be a starting point for a broader conversation about property taxes, school funding, and how the state uses one-time money.
Speaking on WBEV’s Community Comment, the 48th District Democrat said he opposed the proposal because he believed it would have spent down too much of the state surplus while creating future budget pressure.
Hysell said the plan was negotiated by Governor Tony Evers’ office and Republican legislative leaders, but he said many rank-and-file lawmakers were not part of the discussion. He said he received about an hour’s notice before the proposal was released.
The package passed the Assembly but failed in the Senate. Hysell said opposition was not just about process, but about the substance of the proposal.
He pointed to a Legislative Fiscal Bureau analysis that he said showed the plan could create a structural deficit of nearly three billion dollars. Hysell said that reinforced his concern that the state should avoid using one-time surplus money for ongoing commitments unless lawmakers also address long-term revenue and spending issues.
Hysell said rising property taxes are tied to the state sending too little funding back to schools and municipalities, forcing more costs onto local taxpayers. He said that affects homeowners, seniors on fixed incomes, and school districts that continue to ask voters for referendum support.
Hysell said he would support using surplus dollars for longer-term property tax relief, including proposals that would reduce what homeowners owe in future tax bills rather than sending one-time rebate checks.
