Governor Doyle introduced his 2007-09 Biennial
Budget to the legislature on February 14.
Key Land Conservation Components of the Budget
Bill
These measures are described on page 43 and
44 of the Governor's
budget bill »
The Fiscal Bureau Summary is available here.
Stewardship Reauthoirzation
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund is currently
authorized at $60 million per year through 2010. The Governor's
budget extends the Stewardship Fund through 2020 and increases
funding for the program from $60 to $105 million in 2011. His
proposal would also dramatically increase the amount of money
available for matching grants to land trusts (from $8.25 million
to $14.5 million annually) and local units of government (from
$8 million to $14 million) starting in 2011.
Gathering Waters' Stewardship Reauthorization Campaign »
Managed Forest Law (MFL) Grants Program
The Gover has proposed a Managed Forest Law
Public Access Grant program with the goal of providing more land
for public recreation. When landowners who volunteer to put their
land in the MFL program choose not to open their land to the public,
they pay a "closed acreage fee." The proposed program
would use the revenues from closed acreage fees to provide additional
outdoor recreation opportunities in Wisconsin. The grants would
be provided to local units of government, non-profit conservation
organizations, and the DNR.
The
DNR's Managed Forest Law website »
What is Missing from the Budget Bill
Two of the programs that Gathering Waters has
advocated for were not included in the Governor's budget. These
programs could be added to the budget as an amendment by a member
of the Joint Finance Committee, or they could be advanced as independent
legislation.
Purchase of Development Rights (PDR)
Program for Working Farmlands
The Governor’s Working Land Committee
has recommended the creation of a statewide Purchase of Development
Rights program to protect and maintain a base of farming in communities
whose farming heritage is threatened by development.
Gathering Waters Conservancy supports the creation of a Purchase
of Development Rights program akin to the Stewardship Fund (but
using a different funding source) to purchase easements on keystone
farms and forests.
State Forest Legacy Program
The Federal Forest Legacy Program is a grant
program that protects environmentally important private forestlands
that are threatened by development. The Federal grant requires
a state match, at this time, the need far outstrips the federal
funding.
Gathering Waters Conservancy supports the establishment of a State
Forest Legacy fund to be used both to match Federal funding and
to acquire development rights on other forested lands.
