Governor

Wisconsin operates under a biennial budget, meaning the legislature passes a budget every other year. The budget process begins in the fall of each even year, when state agencies submit their budget requests to the governor and the Department of Administration.

The Department of Administration’s State Budget Office crafts a budget based on the agencies requests and the governor’s desires. The governor then presents his budget to the state legislature for its consideration.

2012 might be the year Wisconsin voters make history by recalling a sitting governor. Recall elections were introduced in Wisconsin in the 1920s, and since that time less than 20 public officials have been recalled, but never a governor.

With the political intrigue, the vast amount of money being spent, and the balance of power in the State Senate on the line; Wisconsin could be in the national political spotlight until well after the dust settles on June 5th.