But the fact is, due to Scott Walker’s fiscally irresponsible policies that were based on rosy projections and an economy lagging our neighbors in the Midwest and most of the nation, Wisconsin has a projected deficit of $396 million in the current budget.
And that number is only expected to grow in the next biennium – the projected structural deficit will increase as agency budget requests are considered and could reach a staggering $1.8 billion, or higher, heading into the next budget. The agency requests that have been submitted thus far include $1.1 billion in new spending without including complete requests from the Department of Public Instruction and the Department of Transportation — potentially two of the largest requests.
According to Secretary Mark Gottlieb, the Department of Transportation is anticipating a deficit of approximately $680 million.
“Scott Walker balanced Wisconsin’s budget on the backs of hard-working families, and now his fiscally irresponsible policies are having real, harmful effects on an economy that is already lagging as Wisconsin ranks dead last – 10th out of 10 states – in the Midwest in private sector job creation,” Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate said Thursday. “At a time when most states have recovered all the jobs lost in the Great Recession and are looking at a budget surplus for the next biennium, Wisconsin continues to fall behind under Scott Walker’s failed leadership. This isn’t a ‘Wisconsin Comeback,’ it’s a Walker Catastrophe.”
