Historical Wisconsin budget and finance information

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The historical Wisconsin budget and finance information below applies to years prior to the most current fiscal year. With the exception of the tab labeled "Prior fiscal year budgets," the tabs below display information, from several different fiscal years, as it was presented on Ballotpedia in prior calendar years. For more current information regarding Wisconsin's budget and finances, click here.

As published 2016

Wisconsin budget and finances

General information

Budget calendar: Bienneal

Fiscal year: 2017

State credit rating: AA (as of 2014)

Current governor: Scott Walker

Financial figures

Total spending (state and federal funds): $45.4 billion (estimated for 2015)

Per capita spending: $7,865.94 (estimated for 2015)

Total state tax collections: $16.4 billion (2014)

Per capita tax collections: $2,849.40 (2014)

State debt: $45.0 billion (as of 2014)

Per capita state debt: $7,863 (as of 2014)

State budget and finance pages • Total state expenditures • State debt • Tax policy in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, as in other states, lawmakers and public officials are elected in part to manage the state's finances. This includes generating revenues (money coming into the state from various sources) and approving expenditures (the money spent on governmental functions and servicing state debt). State budgets are complex and fluid, as they depend on anticipated revenues and planned expenditures, which may alter over the course of a fiscal year. If revenues do not keep pace with expenditures, states generally have to raise taxes, cut services, borrow money, or a combination of the three. State budget decisions are also influenced by policy decisions at the national level, such as the Affordable Care Act or energy and environmental regulations, and issues at the local level, such as crime and the quality of education.

HIGHLIGHTS

Between fiscal years 2014 and 2015, total government spending in Wisconsin increased by approximately $0.5 billion—from $44.9 billion in fiscal year 2014 to an estimated $45.4 billion in 2015. This represents a 1.1-percent increase.

In Wisconsin in fiscal year 2014, 47.7 percent of total tax revenues came from income taxes.

Education accounted for 30.3 percent of state expenditures in fiscal year 2015, while 18.4 percent went to Medicaid.

The Wisconsin state budget and financial data presented here come from different years because the states and the federal government report and publish the information at different times.

Definitions

The following terms are used to describe a state's finances:

• Revenues come mainly from tax collections, licensing fees, federal aid, and returns on investments.
• Expenditures generally include spending on government salaries, infrastructure, education, public pensions, public assistance, corrections, Medicaid, and transportation.
• State debt refers to the money borrowed to make up for a deficit when revenues do not cover spending.
• The state credit rating is the grade given by a credit rating agency based on the general financial health of the state's government and economy.
• State funds include general and other state-based funds. A general fund is "the predominant fund for financing a state's operations." Other state funds are "restricted by law for particular governmental functions or activities."
• Federal funds are "funds received directly from the federal government."
• Total spending is calculated by adding together the totals for state and federal funds used for expenditures.

Note: In comparing dollar amounts across the states, it is important to note that the cost of living can from state to state and within a state. The amounts given on this page have not been adjusted to reflect these differences. For more information on "regional price disparities" and the Consumer Price Index, see the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Revenues

2014 revenues

See also: State government tax collections by source

The table below breaks down state government tax collections by source in 2014 (comparable figures from surrounding states are also provided to give additional context). Figures for all columns except "2013 population" and "Per capita collections" are rendered in thousands of dollars (for example, $2,448 translates to $2,448,000). Figures in the columns labeled "2013 population" and "Per capita collections" have not been abbreviated.

Compared to neighboring states, Wisconsin had the third highest state tax collections per capita, at $2,849.

State tax collections by source ($ in thousands), 2014
State	Property taxes	Sales and gross receipts	Licenses	Income taxes	Other taxes	Total	2013 population	Per capita collections
Wisconsin	$159,069	$7,359,539	$1,040,619	$7,779,733	$71,965	$16,410,925	5,759,432	$2,849
Illinois	$54,710	$15,758,509	$2,675,943	$20,343,042	$350,690	$39,182,894	12,882,189	$3,042
Iowa	N/A	$3,771,938	$808,047	$3,586,277	$105,577	$8,271,839	3,109,481	$2,660
Michigan	$1,919,910	$12,309,564	$1,511,695	$8,755,723	$307,081	$24,803,973	9,916,306	$2,501
Minnesota	$836,743	$9,759,346	$1,314,463	$10,844,216	$374,133	$23,128,901	5,457,125	$4,238
United States	$14,232,835	$411,414,175	$51,120,024	$357,104,785	$31,880,270	$865,752,089	318,907,401	$2,715
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "2014 annual survey of state government tax collections by category," accessed April 4, 2016

Wisconsin tax collections by source in 2014.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

The table below lists 2014 tax collections by source as percentages of total collections. About 47.4 percent of Wisconsin's total state tax collections came from income taxes.

State tax collections by source (as percentages), 2014
State	Property taxes	Sales and gross receipts	Licenses	Income taxes	Other taxes
Wisconsin	1.0%	44.8%	6.3%	47.4%	0.4%
Illinois	0.1%	40.2%	6.8%	51.9%	0.9%
Iowa	N/A	45.6%	9.8%	43.4%	1.3%
Michigan	7.7%	49.6%	6.1%	35.3%	1.2%
Minnesota	3.6%	42.2%	5.7%	46.9%	1.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "2014 annual survey of state government tax collections by category," accessed April 4, 2016

Federal aid to the state budget

See also: Federal aid to state budgets

State governments receive aid from the federal government to fund a variety of joint programs, mainly in the form of grants for such things as Medicaid, education, and transportation. In 2013 federal aid to the states accounted for roughly 30 percent of all state general revenues. Federal aid varies from state to state. For example, Mississippi received approximately $7.5 billion in federal aid in 2013, accounting for about 43 percent of the state's general revenues, the highest percentage of all of the states. By contrast, North Dakota received about $1.5 billion in federal aid in 2013, or just 19 percent of the state's general revenues, the lowest percentage in the nation.

The table below notes what share of Wisconsin’s general revenues came from the federal government in 2013. That year, Wisconsin received approximately $9.0 billion in federal aid, 27.7 percent of the state's general revenues. Taking into consideration the state's 2013 population, this came out to about $1,559 in federal aid per capita. Figures from surrounding states are provided for additional context.

Federal aid to state budgets, 2013
State	Total federal aid ($ in thousands)	Federal aid as a % of general revenues	Ranking (by % of general revenues)	Est. 2013 population	Aid per capita
Wisconsin	$8,952,020	27.7%	36	5,742,713	$1,559
Illinois	$16,973,577	25.9%	40	12,882,135	$1,318
Iowa	$5,915,221	31.9%	27	3,090,416	$1,914
Michigan	$17,829,882	32.8%	23	9,895,622	$1,802
Minnesota	$9,141,995	26.4%	39	5,420,380	$1,687
Sources: United States Census Bureau, "State Government Finances: 2013," accessed April 4, 2016 United States Census Bureau, "State totals: Vintage 2013," accessed April 8, 2016 Note: Per-capita figures were generated by Ballotpedia by dividing total federal aid for the state by the estimated population of that state in 2013.

Spending

Estimated 2015 expenditures

See also: Total state expenditures

The table below breaks down estimated spending totals for fiscal year 2015 (comparable figures from surrounding states are included to provide additional context). Figures for all columns except "Population” and “Per capita spending" are rendered in millions of dollars (for example, $2,448 translates to $2,448,000,000). Figures in the columns labeled "Population” and “Per capita spending" have not been abbreviated.

Wisconsin's total estimated government spending in fiscal year 2015 was $45.4 billion, which was the third highest amount when compared to surrounding states.

Total estimated state spending, FY 2015 ($ in millions)
State	State funds	Federal funds	Total spending	Population	Per capita spending
Wisconsin	$34,275	$11,122	$45,397	5,771,337	$7,865.94
Illinois	$51,506	$17,904	$69,410	12,859,995	$5,397.36
Iowa	$15,429	$6,335	$21,764	3,123,899	$6,966.93
Michigan	$31,232	$22,633	$53,865	9,922,576	$5,428.53
Minnesota	$24,613	$10,601	$35,214	5,489,594	$6,414.68
Per-capita figures are calculated by taking the state's total spending and dividing by the number of state residents according to United States Census Bureau estimates. Source: National Association of State Budget Officers, "Examining fiscal 2013-2015 state spending," accessed April 4, 2016

Spending by function

Breakdown of spending by function in FY 2014.
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

See also: State spending by function as a percent of total expenditures

State spending in Wisconsin can be further broken down by function (elementary and secondary education, public assistance, etc.). Fiscal year 2014 information is included in the table below (information from neighboring states is provided for additional context). Figures are rendered as percentages, indicating the share of the total budget spent per category.

In fiscal year 2014, Medicaid accounted for 18.4 percent of Wisconsin's total expenditures.

State spending by function as a percent of total expenditures, FY 2014
State	K-12 education	Higher education	Public assistance	Medicaid	Corrections	Transportation	Other
Wisconsin	16.1%	14.2%	0.4%	18.4%	2.8%	6.6%	41.5%
Illinois	14.6%	4.1%	0.3%	26.1%	2.4%	9.3%	43.1%
Iowa	16.6%	26.7%	0.5%	20.9%	2.3%	7.2%	25.8%
Michigan	26.9%	4.3%	0.5%	27.6%	4.4%	7.5%	28.7%
Minnesota	28.2%	4.4%	1.5%	29.8%	1.5%	9.5%	25.1%
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers Note: "Other" expenditures include "Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), institutional and community care for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, public health programs, employer contributions to pensions and health benefits, economic development, environmental projects, state police, parks and recreation, housing and general aid to local governments."

Spending trends

Between 2010 and 2014, the share of the Wisconsin state budget spent on Medicaid increased from 17.1 percent in 2010 to 18.4 percent in 2014. See the table below for further details (figures are rendered as percentages, indicating the share of the total budget spent per category).

Spending by function from 2010 to 2014 (as percentages)
Year	K-12 education	Higher education	Public assistance	Medicaid	Corrections	Transportation	Other
2014	16.1%	14.2%	0.4%	18.4%	2.8%	6.6%	41.5%
2013	16.2%	14.3%	0.3%	17.2%	2.9%	6.9%	42.1%
2012	16.7%	14.1%	0.4%	16.5%	2.9%	6.9%	42.5%
2011	17.3%	13.7%	0.3%	17.0%	3.0%	6.4%	42.2%
2010	18.1%	12.3%	0.3%	17.1%	3.1%	7.1%	41.9%
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers Note: "Other" expenditures include "Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), institutional and community care for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, public health programs, employer contributions to pensions and health benefits, economic development, environmental projects, state police, parks and recreation, housing and general aid to local governments."

Fiscal year budgets

See also: Historical Wisconsin budget and finance information

Fiscal years 2016 and 2017

See budget bill: SB 21

Governor Scott Walker released his budget proposal for the 2016-2017 biennium on February 3, 2015. This budget proposed total spending of about $35.9 billion in fiscal year 2016, a 2.6 percent increase from fiscal year 2015, and total spending of $32.3 billion in fiscal year 2017, a 10 percent decline from fiscal year 2016. The proposal also included $15.9 billion in general fund spending for 2016 and $16.9 billion in general fund spending for 2017. Approximately 33.2 percent of that general spending was designated for public education, and medical assistance programs were to use about 16.9 percent of the budget. The governor identified several priorities for the biennium, including freezing university tuition, developing the state's workforce, and restructuring the state's public education system.

Governor Walker passed the state's official budget on July 12, 2015. The final budget set aside $15.6 billion for general fund spending in fiscal year 2016 and $16.4 billion in general fund spending for fiscal year 2017. The state's budget included various investments aimed towards economic growth, increased K-12 education support, tuition freezes, and a push to cut the influence of the state's government.

State debt

See also: State debt

According to a January 2014 report by the nonprofit organization State Budget Solutions, Wisconsin had a state debt of approximately $45 billion. Its state debt per capita was $7,863. In this report for fiscal year 2012, state debt was calculated based on four components: "market-valued unfunded public pension liabilities, outstanding government debt, unfunded other post employment benefit (OPEB) liabilities, and outstanding unemployment trust fund loans." The report revealed that altogether state governments faced a combined $5.1 trillion in debt, which amounted to $16,178 per capita in the nation.

Total 2012 state debt
State	Total state debt	State debt per capita	Per capita debt ranking
Wisconsin	$45,026,643,000	$7,863	47
Illinois	$321,354,115,000	$24,959	5
Iowa	$37,783,060,000	$12,290	38
Michigan	$142,668,026,000	$14,435	25
Minnesota	$85,879,526,000	$15,965	21
Sources: State Budget Solutions, "State Budget Solutions' Fourth Annual State Debt Report," January 8, 2014

Taxpayer burden

TIA Methodology: To figure a state’s taxpayer burden or surplus, TIA looked at a state’s total reported assets minus capital assets and assets restricted by law (buildings, roads, land, etc.) to calculate “available assets,” which were then compared to the amount of money the state owes in bills, including retirement obligations such as pension plans and healthcare benefits for retirees. If the difference between available assets and total bills was positive, TIA called this a surplus; if it was negative, this was a burden. This amount was then divided by the number of individual tax returns with a positive tax liability, thus expressing the total state surplus or burden on a per-taxpayer basis.

According to a report released in September 2015 by the nonprofit Truth in Accounting (TIA), Wisconsin ranked 23rd best in the country in “taxpayer burden.” Rather than using per capita state debt, TIA ranked states based on what it called a “taxpayer burden,” a term that reflects “the amount each taxpayer would have to send to their state’s treasury in order for the state to be debt-free.” On the other hand, states that had sufficient resources to pay their bills were said to have a “taxpayer surplus,” which represents the amount that each taxpayer would receive if the state were to disburse its excess funds.

Based on analysis of Wisconsin’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report from June 30, 2014, and actuarial reports for the state’s retirement plans, TIA concluded that $1 billion in promised retirement benefits were unfunded, but only $472.4 million of these liabilities were reported on Wisconsin’s balance sheet. With all of the unfunded retirement benefits included in the total debt, the state had a shortfall of $8.1 billion, or a taxpayer burden of $4,100.

Public pensions

See also: Wisconsin public pensions and Wisconsin public employee salaries

Between fiscal years 2008 and 2012, the funded ratio of Wisconsin's state-administered pension plans increased slightly from 99.6 percent to 99.9 percent. The state paid 100 percent of its annual required contribution, and for fiscal year 2012 the pension system's unfunded accrued liability totaled $99.3 billion. This amounted to only $18 in unfunded liabilities per capita, making Wisconsin one of the healthiest pension systems in the country.

Credit ratings

See also: State credit ratings

Credit rating agencies, such as Standard and Poor's, assign grades to states that take into account a state's ability to pay debts and the general health of the state's economy. Generally speaking, a higher credit rating indicates lower interest costs on the general obligation bonds states sometimes sell to investors in order to finance large-scale undertakings (e.g., road construction and other public works projects). This, in turn, results in lower interest costs, thereby lowering the cost to taxpayers.

The table below lists the Standard and Poor's credit ratings for Wisconsin and surrounding states from 2004 to 2014. Standard and Poor's grades range from AAA, the highest available, to BBB, the lowest.

State credit ratings, 2004 to 2014
State	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
Wisconsin	AA	AA	AA	AA	AA	AA	AA	AA-	AA-	AA-	AA-
Illinois	A-	A-	A	A+	A+	A+	AA	AA	AA	AA	AA
Iowa	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+
Michigan	AA-	AA-	AA-	AA-	AA-	AA-	AA-	AA-	AA	AA	AA+
Minnesota	AA+	AA+	AA+	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA
Source: Stateline: The Daily News Service of The Pew Charitable Trusts, "Infographic: S&P State Credit Ratings, 2001-2014," June 9, 2014

Economic indicators

See also: Economic indicators by state

Wisconsin's GDP increased by 1 percent in 2014. Click the image to view a larger version.

Broadly defined, a healthy economy is typically one that has a "stable and strong rate of economic growth" (gross state product, in this case) and low unemployment, among many other factors. The economic health of a state can significantly affect its healthcare costs, insurance coverage, access to care, and citizens' physical and mental health. For instance, during economic downturns, employers may reduce insurance coverage for employees, while those who are laid off may lose coverage altogether. Individuals also tend to spend less on non-urgent care or postpone visits to the doctor when times are hard. These changes, in turn, may affect the decisions made by policymakers as they react to shifts in the industry. Additionally, a person's socioeconomic status has profound effects on their access to care and the quality of care received.

In 2013, Wisconsin had the lowest portion of residents, 11 percent, fall below 100 percent of the federal poverty level among its neighboring states. The state's median annual household income between 2011 and 2013 was $54,205, and by September 2014 the state had an unemployment rate of 5.5 percent, lower than the national rate.

Note: Gross state product (GSP) on its own is not necessarily an indicator of economic health; GSP may also be influenced by state population size. Many factors must be looked at together to assess state economic health.

Various economic indicators by state
State	Distribution of population by FPL* (2013)				Median annual income (2011-2013)	Unemployment rate		Total GSP (2013)†
	Under 100%	100-199%	200-399%	400%+		Sept. 2013	Sept. 2014
Wisconsin	11%	15%	31%	42%	$54,205	6.6%	5.5%	$282,486
Illinois	13%	17%	31%	39%	$54,083	9.1%	6.6%	$720,692
Michigan	15%	19%	30%	37%	$49,902	8.8%	7.2%	$432,573
Minnesota	12%	14%	28%	46%	$59,847	4.9%	4.1%	$312,081
United States	15%	19%	30%	36%	$52,047	7.2%	5.9%	$16,701,415
* Federal Poverty Level. "The U.S. Census Bureau's poverty threshold for a family with two adults and one child was $18,751 in 2013. This is the official measurement of poverty used by the Federal Government." † In millions of current dollars. "Gross State Product is a measurement of a state's output; it is the sum of value added from all industries in the state." Source: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "State Health Facts"

Budget process

State documents and agenciesBelow are links to official Wisconsin budget and financial documents. The first is the state's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). A CAFR is a detailed presentation of a government entity's financial condition. This includes fiscal activities and balances for a fiscal year. The second link is to the state's relevant budget agency or office. Wisconsin CAFR Wisconsin budget agency

Wisconsin operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in June.
2. State agencies submit budget requests in September.
3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the Wisconsin State Legislature in January or February.
4. The legislature adopts a budget in June or July. A simple majority is needed to pass a budget.
5. The biennial budget cycle begins July 1.

Wisconsin is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.

The governor is constitutionally and statutorily required to submit a balanced budget. In addition, the legislature is required to pass a balanced budget.

Agencies, offices, and committees

There are three major standing committees in the Wisconsin State Legislature that deal with budget and finance matters: the Senate Finance Committee, the Assembly Finance Committee, and the Joint Finance Committee.

The Wisconsin State Auditor leads the state's Legislative Audit Bureau. The auditor is appointed by the legislature's Joint Committee on Legislative Organization. The auditor "shall at all times with or without notice have access to all state departments and to any books, records or other documents maintained by such agencies and relating to their expenditures, revenues, operations and structure." The office is nonpartisan.

The Wisconsin Treasurer serves as the state's chief banking officer. The state treasurer is elected every four years in partisan elections.

Transparency

See also: "Following the Money" report, 2015

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a consumer-focused nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., released its annual report on state transparency websites in March 2015. The report, entitled "Following the Money," measured how transparent and accountable state websites were with regard to state government spending. According to the report, Wisconsin received a grade of A and a numerical score of 96.5, indicating that Wisconsin was "Leading" in terms of transparency regarding state spending.

As published 2015

State finances in the U.S.
State tax policy in the U.S.
Pension Policy
State finances on the ballot Taxes on the ballot Glossary of state budget terms Public pensions

The information on this tab contains: Spending (fiscal years 2013 and 2014) Revenues (fiscal year 2013) State debt (fiscal year 2012) Federal aid to the state budget (fiscal year 2012) Budget process

Between fiscal years 2013 and 2014, total government spending in Wisconsin increased by approximately $2.1 billion, from $42.8 billion in fiscal year 2013 to an estimated $44.9 billion in 2014. This represented a 5 percent increase. The cumulative rate of inflation during the same period was 1.58 percent, calculated using the Consumer Price Indices for January 2013 and January 2014. As of 2014, financial services firm Standard and Poor's had assigned Wisconsin a credit rating of AA.

HIGHLIGHTS

In fiscal year 2014, estimated per capita spending in Wisconsin ranked ninth in the nation at $7,797.

In 2013, individual income taxes accounted for nearly 44 percent of total state government tax collections.

Spending

Definitions

The following terms are used to describe a state's finances:

• Revenues come mainly from tax collections, licensing fees, federal aid, and returns on investments.
• Expenditures generally include spending on government salaries, infrastructure, education, public pensions, public assistance, corrections, Medicaid, and transportation.
• State debt refers to the money borrowed to make up for a deficit when revenues do not cover spending.
• The state credit rating is the grade given by a credit rating agency based on the general financial health of the state's government and economy.
• State funds include general and other state-based funds. A general fund is "the predominant fund for financing a state's operations." Other state funds are "restricted by law for particular governmental functions or activities."
• Federal funds are "funds received directly from the federal government."
• Total spending is calculated by adding together the totals for state and federal funds used for expenditures.

2014 expenditures

See also: Total state expenditures

The table below breaks down estimated spending totals for fiscal year 2014 (comparable figures from surrounding states are included to provide additional context). Figures for all columns except "Population” and “Per capita spending" are rendered in millions of dollars (for example, $2,448 translates to $2,448,000,000). Figures in the columns labeled "Population” and “Per capita spending" have not been abbreviated.

Total estimated spending in Wisconsin in 2014 was $44.9 billion. Wisconsin's estimated per capita spending in 2014 was $7,797, higher than that of any neighboring states.

Total estimated state spending, FY 2014 ($ in millions)
State	State funds	Federal funds	Total spending	Population	Per capita spending
Wisconsin	$33,887	$11,006	$44,893	5,757,564	$7,797.22
Illinois	$50,392	$19,964	$70,356	12,880,580	$5,462.18
Iowa	$13,957	$6,122	$20,079	3,107,126	$6,462.24
Michigan	$30,605	$20,632	$51,237	9,909,877	$5,170.30
Minnesota	$25,861	$9,492	$35,353	5,457,173	$6,478.26
Per-capita figures are calculated by taking the state's total spending and dividing by the number of state residents according to United States Census Bureau estimates. Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

Spending by function

Breakdown of spending by function in FY 2013
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

See also: State spending by function as a percent of total expenditures

State spending in Wisconsin can be further broken down by function (elementary and secondary education, public assistance, etc.). Fiscal year 2013 information is included in the table below (information from neighboring states is provided for additional context). Figures are rendered as percentages, indicating the share of the total budget spent per category.

In 2013, Medicaid accounted for 17.2 percent of total state spending in Wisconsin, a smaller share than in any neighboring state.

State spending by function as a percent of total expenditures, FY 2013
State	K-12 education	Higher education	Public assistance	Medicaid	Corrections	Trans- portation	Other
Wisconsin	16.2%	14.3%	0.3%	17.2%	2.9%	6.9%	42.1%
Illinois	13.3%	3.7%	0.3%	23.8%	2.1%	8.4%	48.4%
Iowa	16.4%	26%	0.5%	19.8%	2.1%	6.8%	28.3%
Michigan	27.2%	4.2%	0.7%	26.4%	4.6%	7.8%	29%
Minnesota	29.2%	4.7%	1.4%	24.3%	1.5%	10.7%	28.2%
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers Note: "Other" expenditures include "Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), institutional and community care for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, public health programs, employer contributions to pensions and health benefits, economic development, environmental projects, state police, parks and recreation, housing and general aid to local governments."

Spending trends

Between 2009 and 2013, the share of the Wisconsin state budget spent on K-12 education decreased from 18.6 percent to 16.2 percent. See the table below for further details (figures are rendered as percentages, indicating the share of the total budget spent per category).

Spending by function from 2009 to 2013 (as percentages)
Year	K-12 education	Higher education	Public assistance	Medicaid	Corrections	Transportation	Other
2013	16.2%	14.3%	0.3%	17.2%	2.9%	6.9%	42.1%
2012	16.7%	14.1%	0.4%	16.5%	2.9%	6.9%	42.5%
2011	17.3%	13.7%	0.3%	17.0%	3.0%	6.4%	42.2%
2010	18.1%	12.3%	0.3%	17.1%	3.1%	7.1%	41.9%
2009	18.6%	12.5%	0.2%	15.4%	3.3%	7.5%	42.4%
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers Note: "Other" expenditures include "Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), institutional and community care for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, public health programs, employer contributions to pensions and health benefits, economic development, environmental projects, state police, parks and recreation, housing and general aid to local governments."

Revenues

2013 revenues

See also: State government tax collections by source

The table below breaks down state government tax collections by source in 2013 (comparable figures from surrounding states are also provided to give additional context). Figures for all columns except "Population" and "Per capita revenue" are rendered in thousands of dollars (for example, $2,448 translates to $2,448,000). Figures in the columns labeled "Population" and "Per capita revenue" have not been abbreviated.

In 2013, state tax collections in Wisconsin totaled $16.5 billion. Per capita tax collections in Wisconsin totaled $2,877.

State tax collections by source ($ in thousands)
State	Property taxes	Sales and gross receipts	Licenses	Individual income taxes	Corporation net income taxes	Other taxes	Total	2013 population	Per capita collections
Wisconsin	$148,600	$7,088,411	$1,035,743	$7,227,690	$955,752	$66,416	$16,522,612	5,742,953	$2,877.02
Illinois	$61,806	$14,705,739	$2,583,108	$16,538,662	$4,462,627	$363,378	$38,715,320	12,890,552	$3,003.39
Iowa	N/A	$3,608,991	$798,137	$3,436,758	$428,554	$101,936	$8,374,376	3,092,341	$2,708.10
Michigan	$1,954,898	$12,268,026	$1,454,634	$8,239,086	$900,667	$265,343	$25,082,654	9,898,193	$2,534.06
Minnesota	$821,799	$8,289,780	$1,184,465	$8,950,755	$1,363,128	$421,882	$21,031,809	5,422,060	$3,878.93
Source: Tax Policy Center, "State Tax Collection Sources 2000-2013," June 20, 2014

Wisconsin tax collections by source in 2013
Source: Tax Policy Center

The table below lists 2013 tax collections by source as percentages of total collections. In Wisconsin, individual income tax collections accounted for 43.7 percent of total collections, a greater share than in any neighboring state.

State tax collections by source (as percentages)
State	Property taxes	Sales and gross receipts	Licenses	Individual income taxes	Corporation net income taxes	Other taxes
Wisconsin	0.90%	42.90%	6.27%	43.74%	5.78%	0.40%
Illinois	0.16%	37.98%	6.67%	42.72%	11.53%	0.94%
Iowa	N/A	43.10%	9.53%	41.04%	5.12%	1.22%
Michigan	7.79%	48.91%	5.80%	32.85%	3.59%	1.06%
Minnesota	3.91%	39.42%	5.63%	42.56%	6.48%	2.01%
Source: Tax Policy Center, "State Tax Collection Sources 2000-2013," June 20, 2014

State debt

See also: State debt

According to a January 2014 report by the nonprofit organization State Budget Solutions, Wisconsin had a state debt of approximately $45 billion. Its state debt per capita was $7,863. In this report for fiscal year 2012, state debt was calculated based on four components: "market-valued unfunded public pension liabilities, outstanding government debt, unfunded other post employment benefit (OPEB) liabilities, and outstanding unemployment trust fund loans." The report revealed that altogether state governments faced a combined $5.1 trillion in debt, which amounted to $16,178 per capita in the nation.

Total 2012 state debt
State	Total state debt	State debt per capita	Per capita debt ranking
Wisconsin	$45,026,643,000	$7,863	47
Illinois	$321,354,115,000	$24,959	5
Iowa	$37,783,060,000	$12,290	38
Michigan	$142,668,026,000	$14,435	25
Minnesota	$85,879,526,000	$15,965	21
Sources: State Budget Solutions, "State Budget Solutions' Fourth Annual State Debt Report," January 8, 2014

Public pensions

See also: Wisconsin public pensions and Wisconsin public employee salaries

Between fiscal years 2008 and 2012, the funded ratio of Wisconsin's state-administered pension plans increased slightly from 99.6 percent to 99.9 percent. The state paid 100 percent of its annual required contribution, and for fiscal year 2012 the pension system's unfunded accrued liability totaled $99.3 billion. This amounted to only $18 in unfunded liabilities per capita, making Wisconsin one of the healthiest pension systems in the country.

Credit ratings

See also: State credit ratings

Credit rating agencies, such as Standard and Poor's, assign grades to states that take into account a state's ability to pay debts and the general health of the state's economy. Generally speaking, a higher credit rating indicates lower interest costs on the general obligation bonds states sometimes sell to investors in order to finance large-scale undertakings (e.g., road construction and other public works projects). This in turn results in lower interest costs, thereby lowering the cost to taxpayers.

The table below lists the Standard and Poor's credit ratings for Wisconsin and surrounding states from 2004 to 2014. Standard and Poor's grades range from AAA, the highest available, to BBB, the lowest.

State credit ratings, 2004 to 2014
State	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
Wisconsin	AA	AA	AA	AA	AA	AA	AA	AA-	AA-	AA-	AA-
Illinois	A-	A-	A	A+	A+	A+	AA	AA	AA	AA	AA
Iowa	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+
Michigan	AA-	AA-	AA-	AA-	AA-	AA-	AA-	AA-	AA	AA	AA+
Minnesota	AA+	AA+	AA+	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA
Source: Stateline: The Daily News Service of The Pew Charitable Trusts, "Infographic: S&P State Credit Ratings, 2001-2014," June 9, 2014

Federal aid to the state budget

See also: Federal aid to state budgets

State governments receive aid from the federal government to fund a variety of joint programs, such as Medicaid. Federal aid varies from state to state. For example, Mississippi received approximately $7.7 billion in federal aid in 2012, which accounted for more than 45 percent of the state's general revenues. By contrast, Alaska received roughly $2.9 billion in federal aid in 2012, just under 20 percent of the state's general revenues.

The table below notes what share of Wisconsin’s general revenues came from the federal government in 2012. That year, Wisconsin received approximately $8.9 billion in federal aid, 28.2 percent of the state's total general revenues. Figures from surrounding states are provided for additional context.

Federal aid to state budgets, 2012
State	Total federal aid ($ in thousands)	Federal aid as a % of general revenue	Ranking
Wisconsin	$8,855,079	28.19%	38
Illinois	$15,646,844	25.66%	43
Iowa	$6,073,376	33.08%	26
Michigan	$17,849,942	33.76%	24
Minnesota	$9,608,018	28.13%	39
Source: United States Census Bureau, "State Government Finances: 2012," accessed February 24, 2014

Stimulus

According to Recovery.gov, the official government website for the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Wisconsin received $3.63 billion in federal funding between February 2009 and June 2013.

Budget process

Wisconsin operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in June.
2. State agencies submit budget requests in September.
3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the Wisconsin State Legislature in January or February.
4. The legislature adopts a budget in June or July. A simple majority is needed to pass a budget.
5. The biennial budget cycle begins July 1.

Wisconsin is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.

The governor is constitutionally and statutorily required to submit a balanced budget. In addition, the legislature is required to pass a balanced budget.

Agencies, offices, and committees

There are three major standing committees in the Wisconsin State Legislature that deal with budget and finance matters: the Senate Finance Committee, the Assembly Finance Committee and the Joint Finance Committee.

The Wisconsin State Auditor leads the state's Legislative Audit Bureau. The auditor is appointed by the legislature's Joint Committee on Legislative Organization. The auditor "shall at all times with or without notice have access to all state departments and to any books, records or other documents maintained by such agencies and relating to their expenditures, revenues, operations and structure." The office is nonpartisan.

The Wisconsin Treasurer serves as the state's chief banking officer. The state treasurer is elected every four years in partisan elections.

Studies and reports

U.S. PIRG "Following the Money" report

See also: "Following the Money" report, 2014

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a consumer-focused nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., released its annual report on state transparency websites in April 2014. The report, entitled "Following the Money," measured the transparency and accountability of state websites with regard to state government spending. According to the report, Wisconsin received a grade of A- and a numerical score of 90, indicating that Wisconsin was leading in terms of transparency regarding state spending.

As published 2014

The information on this tab contains: Spending (fiscal year 2013) Spending by function (fiscal year 2012) Spending trends (fiscal years 2008 to 2012) Revenues (fiscal year 2013) Historical spending (fiscal years 2009 to 2012) Budget transparency

Between fiscal year 2009 and fiscal year 2013, Wisconsin's total expenditures increased by approximately $2.7 billion, from $40.1 billion in 2009 to $42.8 billion in 2013. This represented a 6.31 percent increase, below the cumulative rate of inflation during the same period (9.06 percent, calculated using the Consumer Price Indices for January 2009 and January 2013).

Spending

Definitions

Although each state executes its budget process differently, the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) breaks down state expenditures into four general categories. This allows for comparisons among the 50 states. NASBO's categories are as follows:

• General fund: "The predominant fund for financing a state’s operations. Revenues are received from broad-based state taxes. However, there are differences in how specific functions are financed from state to state."
• Other funds: "Expenditures from revenue sources that are restricted by law for particular governmental functions or activities. For example, a gasoline tax dedicated to a highway trust fund would appear in the 'Other funds' column. For Medicaid, other state funds include provider taxes, fees, donations, assessments, and local funds."
• Federal funds: "Funds received directly from the federal government."
• Bonds: "Expenditures from the sale of bonds, generally for capital projects."

2013

Breakdown of expenditures in FY 2013
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

The table below breaks down expenditures for fiscal year 2013 (comparable figures from surrounding states are provided to give additional context). Figures for all columns except "Per capita expenditures" are rendered in millions of dollars (for example, $2,448 translates to $2,448,000,000). Figures in the column labeled "Per capita expenditures" have not been abbreviated.

Total state expenditures, FY 2013 ($ in millions)
State	General fund	Federal funds	Other funds	Bonds	Total	Per capita expenditures**
Wisconsin	$14,042	$10,815	$17,912	$0	$42,769	$7,447.53
Illinois	$29,260	$15,407	$19,825	$1,955	$66,447	$5,158.07
Iowa	$6,231	$5,682	$7,539	$157	$19,609	$6,345.10
Michigan	$9,164	$19,295	$20,107	$182	$48,748	$4,926.22
Minnesota	$20,056	$8,637	$6,263	$810	$35,766	$6,598.43
**Per capita figures are calculated by taking the state's total expenditures and dividing by the number of state residents according to United States Census estimates. Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

Spending by function

2012

Breakdown of expenditures by function in FY 2012
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

State expenditures in Wisconsin can be further broken down by function (elementary and secondary education, public assistance, etc.). Fiscal year 2012 data is included in the table below (information from neighboring states is provided for additional context). Figures are rendered as percentages, indicating the share of the total budget spent per category.

Expenditures by function, FY 2012 (as percentages)
State	Elementary and secondary ed.	Higher ed.	Public assistance	Medicaid	Corrections	Transportation	Other
Wisconsin	16.7%	14.1%	0.4%	16.5%	2.9%	6.9%	42.5%
Illinois	15.8%	5.5%	0.1%	19.7%	2.2%	8.5%	48.1%
Iowa	16.8%	25.0%	0.6%	19.6%	2.7%	7.5%	27.8%
Michigan	27.2%	4.1%	0.9%	26.1%	4.7%	6.9%	30.2%
Minnesota	23.8%	9.7%	1.4%	27.6%	1.5%	8.3%	27.7%
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers Note: "Other" expenditures include "Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), institutional and community care for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, public health programs, employer contributions to pensions and health benefits, economic development, environmental projects, state police, parks and recreation, housing and general aid to local governments."

Spending trends

From 2008 to 2012, Medicaid spending rose 3 percentage points, or 22 percent, as a share of the budget; higher education increased by 3 percentage points, or 7.6 percent, as a share of the budget, and elementary and secondary education went down 2.4 percentage points, for a 12.5 percent decrease as a share of the budget. The table below details changes in expenditures from 2008 to 2012. Figures are rendered as percentages, indicating the share of the total budget spent per category.

Expenditures from 2008 to 2012 (as percentages)
Year	Elementary and secondary ed.	Higher ed.	Public assistance	Medicaid	Corrections	Transportation	Other
2012	16.7%	14.1%	0.4%	16.5%	2.9%	6.9%	42.5%
2011	17.3%	13.7%	0.3%	17.0%	3.0%	6.4%	42.2%
2010	18.1%	12.3%	0.3%	17.1%	3.1%	7.1%	41.9%
2009	18.6%	12.5%	0.2%	15.4%	3.3%	7.5%	42.4%
2008	19.1%	13.1%	0.3%	13.5%	3.4%	7.0%	43.6%
Change in %	-2.40%	1.00%	0.10%	3.00%	-0.50%	-0.10%	-1.10%
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers Note: "Other" expenditures include "Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), institutional and community care for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, public health programs, employer contributions to pensions and health benefits, economic development, environmental projects, state police, parks and recreation, housing and general aid to local governments."

Revenues

Breakdown of general fund revenue sources in FY 2013
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

The table below breaks down general fund revenues by source in fiscal year 2013 (comparable figures from surrounding states are also provided to give additional context). Figures for all columns except "Per capita revenue" are rendered in millions of dollars (for example, $2,448 translates to $2,448,000,000). Figures in the column labeled "Per capita revenue" have not been abbreviated.

Revenue sources in the general fund, FY 2013 ($ in millions)
State	Sales tax	Personal income tax	Corporate income tax	Gaming tax	Other taxes and fees	Total	Per capita revenue
Wisconsin	$4,410	$7,497	$925	$0	$1,254	$14,086	$2,554.62
Illinois	$7,335	$16,630	$3,086	$340	$8,899	$36,290	$2,817.08
Iowa	$2,109	$3,315	$448	$120	$645	$6,637	$2,147.61
Michigan	$1,832	$5,844	$438	$0	$1,075	$9,189	$928.59
Minnesota	$4,817	$8,649	$1,165	$39	$2,786	$17,456	$3,220.44
**Per capita figures are calculated by taking the state's total revenues and dividing by the number of state residents according to United States Census estimates for 2013. Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

Prior fiscal year budgets

Fiscal years 2016 and 2017

See budget bill: SB 21

Governor Scott Walker released his budget proposal for the 2016-2017 biennium on February 3, 2015. This budget proposed total spending of about $35.9 billion in fiscal year 2016, a 2.6 percent increase from fiscal year 2015, and total spending of $32.3 billion in fiscal year 2017, a 10 percent decline from fiscal year 2016. The proposal also included $15.9 billion in general fund spending for 2016 and $16.9 billion in general fund spending for 2017. Approximately 33.2 percent of that general spending was designated for public education, and medical assistance programs were to use about 16.9 percent of the budget. The governor identified several priorities for the biennium, including freezing university tuition, developing the state's workforce and restructuring the state's public education system.

Governor Walker passed the state's official budget on July 12, 2015. The final budget set aside $15.6 billion for general fund spending in fiscal year 2016 and $16.4 billion in general fund spending for fiscal year 2017. The state's budget included various investments aimed towards economic growth, increased K-12 education support, tuition freezes, and a push to cut the influence of the state's government.

Fiscal years 2014 and 2015

See budget bill: Act 20

Wisconsin state budget -- 2014 and 2015
Wisconsin State Legislature
Text:	Act 20
Legislative history
Introduced:	February 20, 2013
House:	June 18, 2013
Vote (lower house):	55-42
Senate:	June 21, 2013
Vote (upper house):	17-16
Governor:	Scott Walker
Signed:	June 30, 2013
Vetoed:	Partial

On June 30, 2013, Governor Scott Walker signed Assembly Bill 40, the budget bill for the July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2015, biennium passed by the Wisconsin State Legislature, into law, making it Wisconsin Act 20. The new biennium started with a $670 million surplus, which was the state's largest opening balance in over a decade. The Rainy Day Fund had also restored some of its depleted funds, bringing the balance to over $243 million, which was its highest balance on record.

The governor made 57 vetoes to the budget bill before signing it into law. According to Walker, these vetoes removed unnecessary reports and requirements, clarified program intentions and timelines and promoted efficient administration. In total, the vetoes cut spending by $865,000.

Earlier budgets

• Wisconsin state budget (2012-2013)
• Wisconsin state budget (2011-2012)
• Wisconsin state budget (2010-2011)
• Wisconsin state budget (2009-2010)

Historical spending

The information on state budget historical spending below was compiled by the National Association of State Budget Officers. Figures reflect the reported "Total Expenditures" in Table 1. Figures for all columns are rendered in millions of dollars (for example, $2,448 translates to $2,448,000,000).

Historical state spending in Wisconsin ($ in millions)
Fiscal year	General Fund		Other funds		Federal funds		Bonds		Budget totals
	Total	% of Budget	Total	% of Budget	Total	% of Budget	Total	% of Budget
2011-2012	$13,381	32%	$17,371	42%	$10,572	26%	$0	0%	$41,324
2010-2011	$13,565	32%	$17,043	40%	$12,236	29%	$0	0%	$42,844
2009-2010	$12,824	32%	$15,730	39%	$11,531	29%	$0	0%	$40,085
Averages:	$13,257	32%	$16,715	40%	$11,446	28%	$0	0%	$41,418

Budget transparency

Transparency evaluation
	Contract Sunshine
Searchability	N
Grants	N
Contracts	Y
Line item expenditures	N
Dept./agency budgets	N
Public employee salaries	N
Last evaluated in 2011.

See also: Evaluation of Wisconsin state website and Constitutional provisions regarding reading of bills

Government tools

Wisconsin's Contract Sunshine Act called for the creation and maintenance of an Internet site so that anyone could access information about every state contract, purchase, and solicitation of bids or proposals that involved an annual expenditure of $10,000 or more. The site, Contract Sunshine, launched in 2007. In 2011, a state audit found the site to be of "limited value" and sometimes erroneous.

The table to the right is helpful in evaluating the level of transparency provided by Contract Sunshine.

Multi-measure budget transparency profile

The Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois created a multi-measure transparency profile for Wisconsin, which measured state transparency as of September 2011 using indicators from a range of organizations. These indicators measured both website transparency and other recognized facets of governmental transparency. In addition, IGPA presented four unique indicators of non-transparency based on the observation that transfers or reassignments between general and special funds can obscure the true fiscal condition of a state.

IGPA devised a budget transparency index based on information available from the National Association of State Budget Officers. Wisconsin tied for 33rd in the nation with 12 other states, earning four out of eight possible points.

Wisconsin - IGPA score for budget process, contents and disclosure
Budget transparency indicator	Yes or no?
Performance measures
"Generally Accepted Accounting Principles" budget	N
Multi-year forecasting
Annual cycle	N
Binding revenue forecast	N
Legislative revenue forecast
Nonpartisan staff
Constitution or statutory tax/spend limitations	N
TOTAL	4

In addition to the individual state profile, IGPA offers a 50-state comparison and profiles for other states.

See also

• Wisconsin state budget and finances