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State secretary outlines pro-growth budget

LAKE GENEVA — Gov. Scott Walker will present a balanced and pro-growth 2013-15 state budget to the Legislature in February, Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch told members of the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance at their annual meeting Thursday.

Unlike the 2011-13 budget, Walker's second fiscal proposal will begin with a surplus, Huebsch said.

"When the governor came into office, we had a $3.6 million deficit," Huebsch said. "Next week, I will report to the governor in an updated revenue estimate that we will have a $250 million surplus by the end of the fiscal year."

Huebsch said the next budget will be built on five principles:

-- Creating jobs in Wisconsin.

-- Transforming education to meet today's students' needs.

-- Developing Wisconsin's workforce beyond the traditional state model of grow things and make things.

-- Investing in infrastructure including highways, energy needs and IT.

-- Reforming government to do more with less.

Huebsch also gave a preview of the next legislative session.

"You will see mining legislation that addresses the ore deposit in northern Wisconsin that could provide jobs for the next 100 years," he said. "We can mine in an environmentally sensitive way.

"Walker has told all cabinet heads that we will proceed with a pro-business, pro-growth agenda," Huebsch said. "Government doesn't create jobs, you do. But we can provide an environment that will be better for you so you can create more jobs."