Wisconsin legislators left the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program out of their latest budget decisions, creating uncertainty for the popular land conservation program that needs reauthorization by 2026, as reported by Wisconsin Public Radio.
The Stewardship Program helps the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) buy and protect land, but also provides grants to local governments, nonprofits, and conservation groups for park improvements, trails, and land purchases. A July 2024 Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling found that the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) had improperly blocked stewardship projects, putting the future of the program up for debate.
In his February executive budget proposal, Governor Evers requested $1 billion in Knowles-Nelson funding over 10 years—$100 million annually compared to the current $33 million per year. When JFC met in late June to consider the DNR budget, just days before the June 30 budget deadline, Democrats offered a motion for $830 million over the same period. The motion failed on party lines, and the DNR budget without including any Knowles-Nelson funding.
Instead, Republicans pointed to separate legislation that would give the program $28.25 million per year for four years. The bill would also require separate approval for any projects over $1 million.
“We’ve met with so many different stakeholders, so many different groups, so many fellow legislators on getting this done. And we are committed to get it done,” said Rep. Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc) who serves as a Vice-Chair of JFC and co-authored the standalone bill. “It’s just, we want to do it right.”
Democrats objected, saying the new requirements could politicize conservation decisions.
“It is an environmental program that is the envy of other states,” said Rep. Deb Andraca (D-Whitefish Bay), said during the hearing. “We could have conservation programs that are prioritized based on how much good they can do for the state, not the whims of one or two committee members hiding behind anonymous objections.”
The Stewardship Program’s fate now depends on whether lawmakers can reach agreement on the separate legislation before the current funding expires in 2026.
Featured image by Warren LeMay, 2023
