State agencies have sent their 2025-27 state budget requests to Governor Evers. He will use these documents as he prepares his state budget bill, which will likely be introduced in February 2025.
Most agencies issued cost-to-continue budgets that did not request new GPR expenditures, per the Governor’s budget instructions. The Governor is not tied to these requests, they are simply a guide as he puts his budget together. It is estimated that the state will have a $3.1 billion surplus at the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Highlights from relevant agency budgets can be found below.
Department of Safety and Professional Services
DSPS writes in its budget request that it does not have enough FTE staff to fulfill its mission. They note that they have not received their full budget request in any of the last four budgets. Instead, they say, they have had to rely on temporary federal funding. DSPS says that six of the 13 temporary staff positions they received approval for in the last budget are expiring at the end of Fiscal Year 2025. An additional nine federally supported positions and 15 contracted call center staff expire at the end of FY 2025.
Maintaining Customer Service Center Staff Levels: DSPS requests 14.0 FTE permanent Office Operations Associate positions and ongoing funding of $707,000 PR-O in FY 26 and $938,700 PR-O in FY 27 to allow the department to meet the demand for licensed occupations and ensure the safety and economic wellbeing of the people of Wisconsin. DSPS says this funding and staffing level is needed to maintain the current average call-answered rate of 86%.
Credential Processing Staff: DSPS requests authorization for 10 FTE permanent positions and ongoing funding of $659,600 PR-O in FY 26 and $875,500 PR-O in FY 27 to ensure continuation of efficient and effective processing of license applications.
Data-Driven Decision Making and Business Intelligence: DSPS requests a 1.0 FTE permanent Research Analyst-Advanced position and ongoing funding of $60,800 PR-0 in FY 26 and $77,100 PR-0 in FY 27 to use data-driven information to improve internal processes and information dissemination for applicants, educational institutions, and employers. With the automation of the DSPS's credentialing, enforcement and compliance processes, the agency has an opportunity to use the data gleaned from these systems to predict workforce trends, accelerate the pathway to licensure, and develop programs that will educate credential holders.
