Wisconsin revenue grows $500 million more than expected

◼ The state had a roughly $3 billion projected shortfall over two years when Walker took office. Walker and Republican lawmakers fixed it mainly through spending cuts to schools, local governments and other programs rather than through tax increases. Walker and GOP lawmakers also ended most collective bargaining for most public employees to help local officials deal with the cuts, leading to a recall election that the governor won last June. - Jason Stein and Patrick Marley/Journal Sentinel

In a splash of spring sunshine, new projections released Thursday show the state will take in more than $500 million more than expected over the next two years, giving lawmakers the ability to put more money toward schools.

The projections, laid out in a memo from the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, led Gov. Scott Walker to immediately call for putting some of the money toward schools.

"The surplus and increased revenue projections should be invested in aid for our schools, lowering income taxes for middle-class families, holding the line on property taxes, and building our rainy day fund," Walker said in a statement.