This post originally appeared at https://www.wisconsinrightnow.com/rep-mark-born-a-budget-made-for-wisconsin-op-ed/

The state’s budget-writing committee completed our work crafting the next two-year state budget, which has now passed both legislative houses and awaits the governor’s signature.

After many conversations with individuals throughout our state, it is clear the people of Wisconsin want a budget that invests in our kids and infrastructure, reduces the tax burden, and improves access to healthcare. I am proud to share the 2023-25 budget checks off each of these priorities.

All children deserve access to a high-quality education. This is why our budget invests an additional one billion dollars in our public schools, including $50 million for literacy initiatives and $30 million for mental health care. Our budget also includes a significant increase in our state’s choice and charter schools, which allow families to choose an educational experience that is best for their child’s needs.

Our state budget makes significant investments in local roads, highways, and bridges including $10 million more in the state highway rehabilitation program and $130 million more in local road aids compared to what the Governor proposed. We made all of these investments while borrowing $88 million less than the Governor’s plan.

Additionally, our budget provides more money for healthcare quality and accessibility, including supporting the expansion of the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Residency Program, increasing reimbursement rates across several healthcare services, and investing in our long-term care industry. We also increased funding for the Wisconsin Healthcare Stability Plan, which will ensure health insurance is more affordable and accessible on the marketplace.

With pocketbooks still strapped from inflationary pressures throughout the past few years, a top priority of legislative Republicans was to return a chunk of our state’s surplus to hard-working Wisconsin taxpayers. Our budget provides the largest tax cut in state history, which amounts to over $4.4 billion, and gives it back to individuals and families across the state to use their money to fit their own unique needs.

I am proud of this bill and hope the Governor recognizes this budget reflects the needs, values, and priorities of Wisconsin by signing it into law.

About Rep. Mark Born

Representative Mark Born serves the 39th Assembly District, representing parts of Dodge and Columbia Counties. He was born and raised in Beaver Dam, where he currently resides with his wife Liberty, their daughter and their cocker spaniel. Prior to his election to the State Assembly in 2012, Rep. Born worked as a law enforcement officer.

Mark serves as the Assembly Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Finance (JFC), the state’s powerful budget writing committee, of which he has been a member since 2016. Before being appointed to JFC, Rep. Born served on various committees including Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Public Benefit Reform, and as a member of the State’s Building Commission.