Evers tells agencies not to seek more state funding in next budget due to COVID-19

Gov. Tony Evers on Friday asked state agencies to prepare their next budgets without asking for an increase in state funding due to the impact of COVID-19.

Evers also directed agencies to not seek any new positions from any fund source when they submit their budgets on Sept. 15 and to repurpose existing vacancies when feasible.

Evers will propose his next two-year budget early next year.

“The pandemic’s sudden and severe impact on our state revenues will require all of us to be more innovative and more efficient in our use of precious state resources and how we deliver services to those who need them in the days and months ahead,” Evers wrote.

Cost-to-continue increases for some state programs, including Medicaid, are exempted from Evers’ directive.

He asked that agencies continue to find ways to make state government more efficient by streamlining processes, reviewing outdated laws and regulations and coming up with ways to save time and resources.

Last month, the largest agencies announced $70 million in cuts to help buttress state finances in the wake of the pandemic.

Evers also asked that the agencies look at ways to increase equity and decrease racial disparities. He said his request to not seek additional state spending should not “be seen as a directive to simply continue business as usual.”

The governor also said he’d “redouble” his effort to take federal funding to expand Medicaid. Republicans have long opposed taking the money, saying they’d prefer to see people buy private insurance.

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