As Lawmakers in Madison work to put together a biennial budget, they’re also turning to folks across the Badger State to hear what everyday citizens would like to see.

Members of the state’s Joint Finance Committee recently held a series of public hearings across the state, including one in Hayward on April 28.

For those who couldn’t make it- Democratic Representative Angela Stroud of the 73rd District – decided to hold a series of town hall meetings to speak with constituents about the budget – and learn more about their priorities.

The first was held in Superior on April 30, with the Representative spending an hour talking with constituents about the Governor’s budget proposal, which calls for investments in things like healthcare, water safety, and education.

“We don’t have to have public schools that are on the brink of closing or that are broken. We don’t have to have a state where we don’t have access to health care providers because we’re not accepting Medicaid expansion. We don’t have to have a state where we have workforce struggles because we’re not funding our universities and our technical colleges. We can do better.” Rep. Stroud told WDIO in an interview.

On the other side of the aisle, WDIO also spoke with 74th District Representative Chanz Green (R), who, like Stroud, attended the hearing in Hayward. Rep. Green says works to listen to constituent’s needs, while also trying to be practical.

“We try to find a balance, you know, it’s hard, we can’t say yes to everything, you know, we have to be fiscally responsible. And that’s kind of what we do. I’ve heard a lot of things this session when it comes to public education, road funding and things like that, those are what seem to come, you know, be closest to the heart up there.”

Rep. Green will also be holding a series of four listening sessions in May throughout his district.

Wisconsin’s current biennial budget expires in July. If a new budget is not approved by the first of that month, the state will continue to operate on the previous budget.