By Steven Walters of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: May. 5, 2009

Madison – The Legislature’s budget committee Tuesday decided to stop
spending until it knows about the worsening budget deficit, after
voting to save $3.3 million by closing 24 walk-in centers operated by
the state Department of Natural Resources.

Joint Finance Committee leaders said it won’t meet again until next
week. That gives the Legislative Fiscal Bureau time to estimate
whether the $5-billion two-year deficit that state government faced in
March is now as much as $6 billion.

The deficit is growing because tax collections will be lower than
predicted when the fiscal year ends on June 30.

State government’s budget picture is “very uncertain right now,” said
Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona), committee co-chairman. “It’s very
volatile.”

“It would be very helpful to know the actual numbers that we’re
working with,” Miller added.

The budget that Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle gave legislators in February
included $1.7 billion in tax and fee increases and spent $3.6 billion
in federal stimulus cash.

If the two-year budget gap is now about $6 billion, Democrats who
control the Legislature must raise taxes even higher or deeply cut
spending – two unpopular choices.

Another report made public Tuesday illustrated the growing budget
crisis: State government’s general fund – its main checkbook – faces a
cash-flow shortage of $1.3 billion this summer, according to state
Administration Secretary Michael Morgan.

In the past, state government has taken out short-term loans to
temporarily cover the gap. Those must be repaid with interest,
however.

Before postponing its next votes until next week, the Finance
Committee voted to close 24 DNR walk-in centers, which Doyle
recommended in February.

Closing the centers will eliminate 51 jobs and save about $3.3 million
over the next two years, according to the Fiscal Bureau.

Legislators from northern Wisconsin complained that their region will
be hit hardest by closing the 24 walk-in centers, which sell hunting
and fishing licenses and boat registrations and provide information.
Walk-in service would remain at the DNR’s six regional offices and at
its Madison headquarters.

If Doyle’s proposal becomes law, “There will not be one walk-in place
left in northern Wisconsin,” said Rep. Gary Sherman (D-Port Wing).

At Sherman’s request, the committee told the DNR to prepare a plan of
how services now available at the walk-in centers will be provided
after they are closed.

In other action Tuesday, the Finance Committee also:

• Voted to raise boat registration fees about 15% for the 2010
season and charge non-residents who keep their boats in Wisconsin a
$15 annual fee.

• Voted to end the publications of legal notices in the
Madison-based Wisconsin State Journal, which has been designated the
official newspaper of state government. If that is approved, the legal
notices would be posted on the Internet instead.