Wisconsin will face a $1.6 billion budget shortfall in the 2005-'07 biennium, down from $3.2 billion two years ago, according to WisPolitics.
\We made significant progress two years ago, and we have continued to focus on fiscal responsibility-from seemingly small things like selling state cars to big things like saving $93 million by putting a state contract up for competitive bidding. That's why this deficit is half the size of the last one,"" Administration Secretary Marc Marotta said. Marotta added Gov. Jim Doyle will manage the budget by making the government more efficient, not by increasing taxes.
Despite the shortfall, the state's general fund net balance for the 2004-'05 fiscal year is expected to have a positive balance of $176.3 billion.