Measure Tucked Inside State Republicans' Bill to Fund Local Governments Would Give Communities More Say Over Stewardship

Tuesday, May 9th, 2023 -- 9:00 AM

(By Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio) A measure tucked inside a bill to fund local governments would give communities in northern Wisconsin more say over Stewardship proposals, the change winning support from local leaders trying to block the largest conservation project in state history.

The bill would require local approval of projects funded through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program north of Highway 8, which runs east to west across the northern tier of the state. Republican lawmakers included the provisions in legislation to increase shared revenue for local governments. The bill is the latest move to place limits on land conservation in northern Wisconsin.

It comes after GOP lawmakers objected to state funding for the Pelican River Forest. The Conservation Fund and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources had sought $4 million in Stewardship funds as part of plans to set aside 70,000 acres east of Rhinelander for public use and logging.

The Joint Committee on Finance rejected using the funds to help finance a $15.5 million conservation easement on 56,000 acres of the project, saying the state failed to consider local concerns.

Land conservation advocates called the measure a "poison pill" within the shared revenue bill, saying it has nothing to do with funding for local government. A Republican lawmaker on the state’s finance committee disputed that, saying it’s about local control.

A DNR spokesperson said the agency is unable to comment on pending legislation. Gov. Tony Evers has threatened to veto the bill in its entirety.

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