When the legislature starts its new session, state Senator Pat Kreitlow (D-Chippewa Falls) says it’s obvious what priority number one will be: fixing the state’s $5.4 billion budget hole.
However, Kreitlow doesn’t think the deficit is really as big as has been advertised. He says the high number is essentially the result of a “Christmas wish list” from agencies throughout the state, which will drop as things are cut from the budget. Kreitlow also expects the deficit to drop the end of January, after the state gets its new revenue forecasts, trimmed down agency budgets and possible help from the Federal Government.