The Department of Administration announced Monday that Wisconsin finished the 2015-2017 budget cycle in June with a $579 million surplus. The surplus is $126 million more than the governor’s proposed 2017-2019 budget estimated, and $111.9 million more than the final budget passed in September estimated.
“Our pro-growth, pro-taxpayer reforms are working, and this is evidenced by the fact we have ended every year with a surplus since taking office,” Governor Scott Walker said in a statement released Monday. “We will continue to be good stewards of the hard-working taxpayers’ money and continue to provide an accountable government. We are working and winning for Wisconsin.”
The governor’s statement said the surplus was the second largest closing balance since 2000.
The Department of Administration reports general-purpose revenue taxes were $420 million more than the previous year, an increase of 2.8 percent. The state spent $15.858 billion, $41 million less than the budgeted $15.899 billion.
