Evers' budget will focus on tax cuts for residents, holding property taxes at current levels and focus on kids, according to budget address excerpts

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday decried what he called "irresponsible decisions in Washington" and "needless chaos," saying his new two-year spending proposal was designed to prepare for drastic cuts from the federal government.

The state would be short about $1.6 billion by the end of the 2028 fiscal year and nearly $4 billion by the end of the 2029 fiscal year.

Higher education officials applauded Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal while Republican lawmakers call the spending plan "dead on arrival.”

The proposal would invest $4 billion in K-12 and higher education, provide $2 billion in tax relief and increase taxes for wealthy residents.

Gov. Tony Evers unveiled an increase in income taxes for the wealthiest Wisconsinites while decreasing taxes for middle- and lower earners.

Evers has clashed with Republicans over tax cuts in the past, gutting a $3.5 billion tax cut in the last budget, while approving a $2 billion tax cut in 2021. In his new budget, Evers called for cutting a variety of income, sales, and property taxes by nearly $2 billion, while increasing the income tax on millionaires by $1.3 billion.

The Governor’s Office released excerpts of the speech ahead of the address, which will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday.