Timeline for the State Budget Process
(1) The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC) recently held a series of agency briefings, and heard from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) on Monday, April 4th. These briefings provided an opportunity for legislators to ask questions of agency officials, and also provided us a chance to learn more about the Walker Administration’s priorities and Legislator’s perspective on Stewardship.
(2) After these agency budget briefings are completed, the JFC will hold a series of public hearings in several locations around the state. Traditionally these hearings have provided a good venue for members of land trusts to testify in support of programs like Stewardship and PACE; however, this year may present some unique challenges. It will still be important for our voices to be heard at these events but you should know that there may be large crowds and long waits. Hearings are scheduled at the following locations, dates and times:
Stevens Point
Thursday, April 7: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Lee S. Dreyfus University Center
Quandt Fieldhouse
2050 Fourth Ave.
Superior (Changed from Minong)
Friday, April 8: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wessman Arena, UW-Superior
2701 Caitlin Ave.
West Allis
Monday, April 11: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wisconsin State Fair Park Expo Center, Hall A
8200 W. Greenfield Ave.
West Allis, WI 53214
Neenah
Wednesday, April 13: 10am to 6pm
Pickard Civic Auditorium
1275 Tullar Road
Neenah, WI 54946
Three Things You Can Do Now
Fortunately, there are other opportunities to get involved. After the public hearings are finished, the JFC will then begin taking up and voting on pieces of the budget. We are still learning when (i.e., in what order) different issues will be taken up by the JFC. This part of the budget process will be very important and will likely begin sometime in late April. Here’s a list of three things that you can do right now:
- If you haven’t already, get the word out that Stewardship issues are being considered in the state budget. Please feel free to share our analysis and direct people to the policy section of our website and to our Blog. Calls, emails and letters to members of the Legislature will become very important as the state budget process really gets going in late April. We will follow up in the near future with more information about how and when a grassroots effort will be most effective. If you aren’t sure who your legislators are, you can find out here.
- Over the next few weeks, there is a good opportunity to further educate legislators about Stewardship and the value of these programs to the state and to their constituents. This is also a good time to learn more about their priorities and where they stand on our issues. This is particularly important if your land trust operates in the district of a member of the Joint Finance Committee.
- Share examples and concerns with us about how your community would be affected by the Stewardship proposals in the state budget. We have been collecting examples from around the state to share with legislators, but we can always use more.
