State 2021-2023 Biennial Budget

The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) of the Legislature is currently developing the budget that will ultimately need to be signed by the Governor.

Much has been happening on the policy and legislative front over the past several months. After our advocacy efforts for increased county conservation funding came up short in 2020 (with no help from COVID), we are back in the mix. Governor Evers initially proposed in his budget an annual allocation of $12.5 million (an increase from the current $9.4 million). Though the Legislature is developing its own budget, we know there is bipartisan support for our program, and are optimistic they will actually increase the allocation to $13.0 million, in fulfillment of the 100/70/50 funding goal defined in Chapter 92.

CALL TO ACTION, OR EMAIL!

We need your help to ensure the Legislature provides $13.0 million in base funding for county conservation staffing in the budget.

If you have not done so already, please contact your legislators in support of this funding request— especially if they are a JFC member, which includes: Senators Marklein, Stroebel, Kooyenga, Felzkowski, Bernier, Ballweg, Erpenbach, and Johnson; representatives Born, Loudenbeck, Katsma, Zimmerman, J. Rodriguez, Kurtz, Goyke, and Neubauer. We want to avoid any of these legislators saying, “I never heard from my constituents that this was a priority.”

When contacting legislators:

» Consider framing it as “here’s why our work in your district is important,” and follow up by providing your best example(s) of how your existing work meets your local communities’ needs—even better if those examples highlight partnerships with the agricultural community or address drinking water concerns.

» Be sure to also highlight, “here’s how we can better address needs in your district, with additional support,” by highlighting other projects or initiatives your county could pursue with more funding.

» Now is the time to call on those relationships with any well-connected LCC members or constituents that your county has partnered with; it will get legislators’ attention if farmers or others your county has partnered with make contact with their offices on behalf of our budget request and speak to the great work your department does!

Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes in the field.

SHOWING OUR WORK

We always talk about the importance of telling policymakers about the good and necessary work of county conservation departments and committees, but there is no better way to do that than to invite them out to see projects firsthand.

Ron Schoepp starts off the tour by explaining his no-till practices.

During Earth Week, Todd Rietman and Kurt Calkins of the Columbia County Land and Water Resource Conservation Department arranged for a visit of Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes and DATCP Secretary-Designee Randy Romanski to Schoepp Farms. Against the backdrop of Lake Wisconsin, owner Ron Schoepp demonstrated how his managed rotational grazing and cover cropping systems work—and protect water quality in the process. Ron made clear in his comments that the technical support and access to funding provided by Todd and other LWCD staff (as well as from the Natural Resources Conservation Service) have been vital to the success of his operation. If WI Land+Water can assist, we are always happy to help facilitate visits of policymakers and legislators to come see firsthand the good work of your department! Just let us know how we can help!

Tara Schoepp prepares to demonstrate moving cattle.

Ron and Tara prepare to lead the tour.

If WI Land+Water can assist, we are always happy to help facilitate visits of policymakers and legislators to come see firsthand the good work of your department! Just let us know how we can help!