What would you do with an extra $350 million?
The state will probably end up balancing the budget and fully funding medical assistance.
A recent report by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau shows the state will take in more tax revenue over the next two years than expected. But much of the extra $349 million will be swallowed up by shortfalls in the current budget, due to the rising fuel costs and the fact the Ho–Chunk Nation still owes the state $60 million.
Rep. Dean Kaufert, a republican and co-chair on the Joint Finance Committee, says, "The good news sounded good but most of that money has places to go. It gives us a little bit of breathing room and helps us in our problems."
Rep. Kaufert says that extra $120 million will most likely go to pay for the medical assistance shortage in the next budget.
