Governor Tony Evers is pushing for legislative action to save the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program after it was left out of Wisconsin’s $111 billion biennial budget. During a July 17 visit to Waterloo, Evers expressed optimism about renewed negotiations, as reported by the Leader Independent.
“It’s our hope that sometime between now and the end of this calendar year, the legislature will come back together,” Evers said. “We can still do it.”
The Governor’s original proposal would have reauthorized the program for 10 years at $100 million annually—triple the current $33 million funding level. With the program set to expire in 2026, time is running short for legislative action.
Evers emphasized the program’s importance during his Waterloo visit: “We have to do this. I mean, it is important to our environment, and frankly, our economy.”
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has funded conservation projects in all 72 Wisconsin counties since 1989, supporting everything from Ice Age Trail improvements to local park infrastructure through grants to communities and nonprofits.
Featured image by Ken Mattison, 2021
