Gov. Scott Walker vetoed 98 items in the 2017-19 biennial state budget bill before signing it into law Thursday. Among the veto topics to note:
Among the vetoes:
- Quarries. A provision that would have restricted local governments' ability to regulate aggregate quarries.
- Group Insurance Board. Proposed changes to the Department of Employee Trust Funds' Group Insurance Board.
- Historic rehabilitation tax credit. A partial veto of the historic rehabilitation credit changes - to now put in a place a cap of $500,000 per parcel on the credit.
- Ordinances conflicting with statutes. A provision that would have prohibited a political subdivision from enforcing an ordinance if it conflicts with state statute - which Gov. Walker said would have potentially violated home rule under the Wisconsin constitution for cities and villages.
- Car-killed deer program. A provision that would have transferred responsibilities for car-killed deer cleanup programs from DNR to DOT and allow DOT to contract with outside groups including local municipalities for the cleanup.
- Prevailing wage. A partial veto of the prevailing wage provision. Walker's veto will move up implementation - from September 2018 to the effective date of the bill.
In his veto statement, Gov. Walker said his vetoes improve the general fund balance by $16.5 million in the current biennium and by an estimated $71 million in the 2019-21 biennium and he supports using some additional funds to enact tax reductions, including a sales tax holiday, and provide more aid for rural schools through sparsity aid.
Click here to see a report prepared by DCCVA showing major budget provisions in the final enacted budget that impact local governments.
Click here to see Gov. Walker's statement on the budget and description of his vetoes.
