Fiscal Facts

Wisconsin has a long way to go to improve the diversity of its teacher workforce. But local institutions are taking meaningful steps, and actionable state policy options hold promise to help meet that goal.

The state’s child care subsidy program for low-income families, Wisconsin Shares, is among those that saw sweeping changes during the last year — as enrollment in the program spiked early in the COVID-19 pandemic, then fell to its lowest level in at least five years.

The response to COVID-19 had an unprecedented impact on Wisconsin’s incarcerated population, as local jail and state prison populations plummeted during the pandemic after years of increases.

As part of its new budget brief, the Wisconsin Policy Forum offers six keys that are likely to influence Wisconsin’s upcoming budget debate.

Gov. Tony Evers, seeking to advance goals that include addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, proposes in his 2021-23 budget bill to bolster spending on education, economic development, social services, and infrastructure.

As public usage of outdoor spaces in Wisconsin has been on the rise, state leaders may wish to consider the trend in making key budget decisions, including on the future of a state program to fund purchases of and improvements to public lands.

Wisconsinites increased participation in outdoor activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and while the durability of this shift is uncertain, policymakers may wish to consider it as they craft state and local budgets for public lands and recreational and conservation programs.

A paradigm shift appears underway in Wisconsin’s state transportation fund as vehicle fees may soon rival fuel taxes as its primary revenue source.

The surprise blow of COVID-19 has hammered key state transportation revenues in Wisconsin, leaving them short of projections for the current two-year budget cycle and raising questions about whether they will fully rebound after the pandemic.

A recent state report shows that from 2020 to 2022, Wisconsin’s general fund is projected to receive at least $70 million less than originally expected from gaming revenues collected from the state’s 11 federally recognized tribes.