Notes from the West Wing
By
State Representative Garey Bies
A Stewardship Primer
Summer is almost over yet the budget doesn’t seem to be any closer to completion! So far during this Conference Committee process, the single issue that has generated the most contacts in my office is the Stewardship Program. It has generated more contacts than all other issues combined. It has been quite surprising actually that I received more contacts on Stewardship in one week than I have received all summer on Healthy Wisconsin, school and UW funding. The Stewardship Program is very important in the First Assembly District so for this edition of Notes from the West Wing, I’d like to provide a bit of a primer on the Stewardship Program for those that are not as familiar with how it works and also about some legislation I have introduced to support the Program.
The Stewardship Program was first created in 1989 for the purpose of protecting environmentally sensitive areas and expanding recreational opportunities. Currently, the Stewardship Program is authorized to spend $60 million a year to purchase land. Since the Program’s inception, land purchases have increased the amount of public conservation land to the point that government-owned land in Wisconsin is over 6.3 million acres, approaching 20% of the state’s land area. As a result, many wonderful wild and natural areas in our state have been protected for the future enjoyment of Wisconsin residents and visitors.
I have always maintained that the aesthetic and environmental benefits provided by the Stewardship Program are without question. But there is the fiscal side of the program as well. What you may not be aware of is how the Stewardship Program is funded. Under the current authorization of the Stewardship Program, when the legislature appropriates $60 million for purchases, that does not mean that $60 million is taken from the state’s General Fund, set aside, and then spent. Under the operation of the Stewardship Program, the money used to make a land purchase is borrowed, that is to say the state incurs debt. This debt to make land purchases must be then repaid with interest. In 2008-2009, the State of Wisconsin will pay more in interest charges on Stewardship debt than it will pay to acquire more land. That’s right, the state will pay $61 million in debt finance charges and $60 million for land purchases (which again, is accruing more state debt) for a total Stewardship expense of $121 million. This amount reflects actual costs of the Program under its current authorization.
As a member of the state legislature, and a member that is an ardent supporter of the Stewardship Program, I cannot ignore the fiscal impact that the Stewardship Program has on the rest of the state budget. The more money that is spent on Stewardship means there is less money available for other programs. I found it ironic this past week that William Tishler, a University of Wisconsin professor from Madison felt that funding for the Stewardship Program was a higher priority than funding for the University of Wisconsin system. Of course the professor didn’t do his homework on me and my unwavering support of the Stewardship Program, but surely he would have written about UW funding instead if he felt that was more important.
I am confident that the legislature will reauthorize Stewardship Program. Although exactly how much debt authorization the Conference Committee will approve is unclear. Over a billion dollars for Stewardship debt authorization is a lot and the members of the Conference Committee have to weigh all of the state’s priorities. There simply is not enough money for everybody to get everything they want. Another component of reauthorization for Assembly Republicans concerns ensuring that land purchased by the Stewardship Program creates opportunities for all of our state’s outdoor enthusiasts. I agree with my Assembly Republican colleagues that Stewardship purchases must not result in a net decrease in land available to our state’s hunters. Of course some lands should not be open to hunting, and nobody is arguing anything differently, but the Stewardship Program is to expand recreational opportunities for all Wisconsin residents, and this includes sportsmen and women.
While most of the attention concerning the Stewardship Program is currently directed to the Conference Committee, I must remind everyone of my own Stewardship proposal. No matter what the Committee decides regarding debt authorization for Stewardship, the Program can always benefit from a little more! To that end, I introduced Assembly Bill 156. My proposal would establish a “trust fund” for the Stewardship Program. Establishment of a Stewardship trust fund would allow for private, direct contributions to the Program. These contributions would be tax deductible and could be used by the Department of Natural Resources solely for the Stewardship Program. Contributions under my proposal would not offset any state funding of the Program, but would supplement state funding. I think my legislation, which received unanimous, bi-partisan support in the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, would be a great compliment to the Stewardship Program!
Wisconsin is a special place and the Stewardship Program plays an important role in preserving our natural treasures. The Conference Committee members know this too, and I look forward to seeing their recommendations.
Well, this has been a lengthy discussion today, but this is a subject that I and many of you feel is very important so I did not want to cut it short. Of course I’m happy to talk further on this subject so feel free to contact me if you have questions or comments. I can be reached by e-mail at Rep.Bies@legis.wisconsin.gov or by telephone, toll-free at 1-888-482-0001. You can also visit my website at http://www.legis.state.wi.us/assembly/asm01/news/.