Democratic members of the Joint Committee on Finance would like to invite members of the public to the public hearings on Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s 2015-2017 state budget.

The Committee scheduled four meetings that are open to the public for testimony on any topic included in the state budget. In the immediate area, a hearing will be held  from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26 at Reedsburg High School in the CAL Center Auditorium.

Democratic members of the Committee asked for additional public hearings so that people did not have to travel for hours to attend a hearing. That request was not granted. Additionally, Democratic members asked the Joint Committee on Finance to have hearings scheduled outside the normal workday so that people would not have to take off of work to attend. In response to that concern, Joint Finance Committee Co-Chair John Nygren (R-Marinette) stated that the meeting would stay open if people wishing to testify had turned in a hearing slip to speak before the scheduled end of the public hearings.

The co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Finance have shared their guidelines for the public testimony at the hearings. Individuals wishing to testify will have two minutes to speak. Groups will be given five minutes to testify regardless of size. Upon entering the committee room individuals will be asked to fill out a hearing slip that will ask for their name and address. Those that are planning to testify may also bring a printed copy of material they wish to share with members of the Committee. Written materials will be distributed after the public hearings to members of the committee.