Wisconsin Democrats Propose Bill to Double Stewardship Funding, Create Oversight Board

Wisconsin Democrats have introduced a bill to save the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, which funds land conservation efforts, after it was defunded in the recent state budget. Their proposal would more than double funding to $72 million annually and establish a 17-member board to oversee land purchases, requiring approval for projects costing over $2.5 million. The Democratic plan aims to strike a balance between Gov. Tony Evers' $100 million funding request and the $28.25 million proposed by Republicans, who seek greater legislative oversight following a state Supreme Court ruling limiting their ability to block projects. Republicans have expressed some willingness to work across the aisle, although they favor a legislative approval process for land purchases exceeding $1 million, which Democrats argue would be too slow. The program has widespread public support and has conserved 650,000 acres in Wisconsin, but some Republicans criticize it for reducing property tax revenues in rural areas and want caps on government-owned land. Both parties agree on the importance of preserving the program, but negotiations continue over funding levels and oversight mechanisms.