|
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers during his 2023-25 Biennial Budget Message, announced key infrastructure initiatives to ensure Wisconsin’s infrastructure is prepared to support a workforce and economy of the 21st Century. The governor is proposing to make critical investments to build 21st Century infrastructure, invest in expanding access to reliable, high-speed internet, and continue the governor’s work over his first term improving Wisconsin’s roads, highways, and bridges. Gov. Evers again proposes to make the largest investment in high-speed internet in state history to ensure the state is doing its part to meet broadband expansion goals by the end of 2025. Additionally, after improving over 5,800 miles of roads and nearly 1,600 bridges during the governor’s first term, Gov. Evers’ initiatives include the highest level of funding ever into general transportation aids, which go directly toward helping local counties and communities repair and maintain local roads. The governor also proposes increased investments to build out electric vehicle infrastructure, prevent reckless driving, and bolster the supply chain while also using a portion of the state’s surplus to pay down state debt in transportation revenue bonds. This action will ensure the state is spending less taxpayer dollars in the future paying on debt and interest to continue focusing resources on road improvement and maintenance. In his 2023-25 biennial budget message delivered tonight, Gov. Evers continued to unveil his plans to bolster the state’s current and future workforce, maintain economic momentum, and ensure Wisconsin’s infrastructure is prepared to support a workforce and economy of the future: “Giving working families a little extra breathing room is just one key part of our plan to bolster the middle class, maintain our economy’s momentum, reduce barriers to work, and address our state’s workforce challenges. But we have a lot of work to do together to keep building our economy from the ground up. “Let’s start with making sure our infrastructure is prepared to support a workforce and economy of the 21st Century. No administration in state history has done more to expand access to high-speed internet than we have. We’ve allocated more than $340 million to ensure more than 390,000 homes and businesses will have new or improved, reliable, high-speed internet. That’s a big deal, folks. “But in this century, nearly everything about our economy, our workforce, and our way of life depends on access to reliable high-speed internet. And the longer it takes to get everyone connected, the more costly it becomes for our state to catch up. We can’t afford not to keep our same pace. In fact, we need to double our efforts. “So, I’m again proposing to make the largest investment in high-speed internet in our state’s history. I’m asking the Legislature to join me in supporting a $750 million investment into Broadband Expansion Grants, so the state is doing our part to meet our goal of getting every Wisconsinite, every home, and every business connected to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet by the end of 2025. We have to do it, folks. And together we will. “Part of ensuring our infrastructure is ready for a 21st Century workforce and economy is building upon our work over the last four years to improve over 5,800 miles of roads and nearly 1,600 bridges. I’m also proposing the highest level of funding ever into aid that goes directly toward helping local counties and communities repair and maintain our roads to do just that. “We’re also investing in key projects across the state, from the Ray Nitschke Memorial Bridge in Green Bay to the Blatnik Bridge in Superior. And we’re expanding transportation alternatives in our small communities, building out our electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and re-engineering roads to improve safety and help prevent reckless driving. “These investments will be critical for bringing our infrastructure into this century. At the same time, we’re still balancing these investments with prudent decisions to prepare for future economic uncertainty. So, we’re going to use a portion of our state’s surplus, not to create more ongoing expenses, but to reduce them. We’re going to pay down $380 million in state debt in transportation revenue bonds. That means we’ll spend less of your hard-earned tax dollars in the future paying on debt and interest so we can stay focused on fixing the darn roads. “Investing in 21st Century transportation and infrastructure is essential to prepare our workforce and our economy for the future, and we have to start right away. …” The governor’s comprehensive transportation budget proposal also prepares the state for its future by proposing two new funding sources for the state’s transportation fund and utilizing federal funding to further build out Wisconsin’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure, enabling the state to use $34.5 million in federal funds over the biennium, along with potential state funds, to allow greater use of electric vehicles throughout the state. Additionally, the governor is building on his previous historic investments in broadband by again proposing the largest state investment in expanding high-speed internet in the state’s history. Since 2019, Gov. Evers has allocated more than $340 million to expand high-speed internet. With the help of these investments, more than 390,000 homes and businesses will have new or improved access to reliable, high-speed internet. The governor is also proposing updating the Broadband Expansion Grant Program to modernize the program criteria and create new consumer protections for broadband customers. A breakdown of the governor’s proposals to build safe, reliable infrastructure, pay down debt service, and expand high-speed internet service for Wisconsinites is available below. Transportation Local Roads and Services
Bridges and Highways
Road Safety
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Gov. Evers is proposing:
Supply Chain Investments
Laying the Foundation for Future Infrastructure Additionally, the governor proposes providing two new sources of revenue to fund infrastructure improvements throughout Wisconsin and maintain a healthy transportation fund, including:
These transfers will allocate nearly $190 million from the general fund to the transportation fund over the biennium. Broadband Over the past four years, Gov. Evers has gotten to work to expand access and affordability of high-speed internet for Wisconsinites across the state, and in 2021, he declared it the Year of Broadband Access. The governor continues his commitment to closing the digital divide by again providing the largest state investment in broadband expansion in the state’s history. Expanding Access and Affordability Gov. Evers is proposing investing $750 million in the Broadband Expansion Grant program with a requirement that the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (Commission) spends at least $75 million annually on grants. This historic proposal builds upon the governor’s previous record-setting investments in expanding broadband across the state and is more than four times larger than the total funding provided to the grant program over Gov. Evers’ past two budgets. The governor is also proposing strengthening the Broadband Expansion Grant Program to ensure that all Wisconsinites have access to reliable and affordable broadband service by:
Additionally, Gov. Evers is proposing:
Promoting Equity and Reliability
|
| An online version of this release is available here. |
Gov. Evers Announces Initiatives to Build 21st Century Infrastructure, Expand High-Speed Internet, Improve Roads, Highways, Bridges
Feb 20, 2023 | 6:57 AM
