Wisconsin lawmakers have approved provisions in Gov. Scott Walker's budget that would provide local police with $2 million in grants over the next years to cover beat officers' overtime.
The Joint Finance Committee approved the plan Tuesday on a 16-0 vote. The panel amended the budget plan to make only cities with at least 25,000 people eligible for the grants and require the state Department of Justice to shift $2 million from its discretionary funds back to the state to cover the grants. DOJ's discretionary funds are built through gifts, grants and settlements. According to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the agency will end the current fiscal year with $8.4 million in discretionary funds.