Wisconsin's Estimated Budget Surplus Tops $7 Billion

MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin's projected state budget surplus is now forecast to reach $7.1 billion by July, up more than half a billion dollars from the previous estimate just two months ago, the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau reported Wednesday.

It is the largest budget surplus in Wisconsin history.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and the Republican-controlled Legislature are fighting over what to do with the money. Republicans support moving to a flat income tax, while Evers wants a tax cut targeting the middle class and more money for K-12 schools. Evers on Tuesday, in his State of the State speech, unveiled nearly $1.5 billion in new spending proposals, most of which Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos declared to be dead on arrival.