"The negotiated agreement is a result of several weeks of hard work," said Carla Vigue, a spokeswoman for Gov. Jim Doyle's office.,”Wisconsin legislators will vote today on a final version of the state budget after three months of negotiations and attempts at compromise.

"The negotiated agreement is a result of several weeks of hard work," said Carla Vigue, a spokeswoman for Gov. Jim Doyle's office. "Back in September, both sides were quite far apart. The Senate Democrats really wanted a universal health care plan and the Republicans had cut education and many other programs to levels Governor Doyle was not comfortable with."

The final document was finished late Friday night. Compromise efforts spurred to completion last week after Doyle issued an executive order calling a special session of the state Legislature.

Doyle also threatened a partial government shut down and the possibility that University of Wisconsin System schools may not be able to open next semester, according to Josh Wescott, communications director for Senate Majority Leader Judith Robson, a Beloit Democrat.

"Doyle's messages aren't scare tactics," he said. "They are realities. Things don't cost the same amounts as they did two years ago. We would have run out of money."

John Bender, communications director for Assembly Majority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald, a Horicon Republican, said after the Democrats agreed to get rid of their tax increases on hospitals and oil companies, negotiations moved very quickly.

"The removal of the hospital tax and oil assessment fee were two major obstacles that the Democrats withdrew," he said. "The Republicans were against (these increases) because of the overall level of taxing and spending."

Bender said the Republicans compromised by accepting a cigarette tax increase that raises the tax from 77 cents a pack to $1.

This additional revenue will primarily fund general health care including the new BadgerCare Plus program that expands health coverage to almost all Wisconsin children, he said.

Wescott said there was give and take on both sides.

"From our perspective, we're very happy," he said. "The budget represents core Wisconsin values with a priority on working people in the state."

Wescott said one such Wisconsin value is education. He said the proposed budget puts additional funding into rural and impoverished school districts like Milwaukee Public Schools. Of the $21 million set aside for schools, $17 million will go to MPS.

"There is a clearly identified need there," Wescott said. "Achievement gaps and other evidence show that Milwaukee schools are deserving and in need of this investment."

The final budget spends just more than $57 billion and approval is expected from both Houses and the governor. The budget will be presented to the state Senate and Assembly as a Conference Committee Report today. The report cannot be amended and requires a full vote. If approved, the budget will go to Gov. Doyle's desk this week for final authorization, Bender said.

Other items in the proposal include:

 $32 million in new financial aid for students in the University of Wisconsin System

 Increased tax credit to offset high property taxes

 $25 million increase in the one-time $175 million transfer from a fund that pays legal awards in medical malpractice cases

 Reference to funding the Wisconsin Covenant program

 2 percent limit on increases in property tax levies

 $12 million towards free tuition for veterans

 $25 million increase in bonds for preserving recreational lands

 Increase in job training program funds

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