LRB 0220 - A measure that would provide $5.6 million for water infrastructure projects

LRB 0220 -
A measure that would provide $5.6 million for water infrastructure projects potentially finishing all high and medium priority projects identified by the DNR.

There is important legislation working its way through state government that is vital for State Parks. Senator Cowles, Rep Kitchens and Rep Tusler are sponsoring a measure that would provide $5.6 million for water infrastructure projects potentially finishing all high and medium priority projects identified by the DNR. These include drinking water, water lines, septic, and shower facilities. This is critically important in this era of under-funding state lands.

Friends of Wisconsin State Parks support LRB 0220 and we are asking Friends Group to contact their legislators to ask them to become bill co-sponsors and support this measure. Below are talking points that can be used to discuss this with your legislator.

Anyone who visits a property in the Wisconsin State Park System knows that these are truly special places. But despite the enjoyment from some of our state’s best opportunities for outdoor recreation, dilapidated infrastructure can create a lasting impression of our State Park System that can be hard to break. Unfortunately, with hundreds, if not thousands of backlogged infrastructure projects, there’s far too many opportunities for these impressions to be made.

While many backlogged infrastructure projects in the State Park System are less urgent, other rundown infrastructure, often decades old, can cause concern for human health and water quality. Building on the efforts from recent sessions, LRB 0220/1 provides $5.6 million in authorized but unobligated Stewardship bonding authority from the most recent fiscal year to complete necessary health and safety water infrastructure upgrades in our State Parks System.

The projects completed from this bill are at the highest risk of failure. These properties include Governor Dodge, Mirror Lake, Nelson Dewey, New Glarus Woods, Rib Mountain, Wyalusing, Hartman Creek, Merrick, Newport, Perrot, Potawatomi, Rocky Arbor, Willow River State Park, Governor Earl Peshtigo River, Kettle Moraine State Forests, Kinnickinnic, Kohler-Andrae, Lake Wissota, Mill Bluff, Potawatomi, Rib Mountain, Rocky Arbor, Tower Hill, Brule River, Governor Knowles, Peshtigo River, Northern Highland-American Legion State Forests, Cadiz Springs, MacKenzie Center and others.

Most visitors will never notice that the water infrastructure is up-to-date. But if those fixtures are run down or out-of-service, it may impact the visitor’s experience in our State Parks and may impact their plans to come back or visit other State Parks in the future. Further, an isolated illness or outbreak of water-related disease at our State Parks would not only be devastating to those impacted and their loved ones, but could cause ripple effects and harm our entire outdoors-based tourism industry.

The upgrades in LRB 0220/1 have the potential to make positive and needed improvements at 36 properties across 30 counties. These upgrades will benefit the residents and tourists who contributed to 20 million visits to State Park System properties in 2020 and will help to ensure that number continues to grow.

JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS INCREASING FRIEND GROUP STEWARDSHIP GRANTS

 JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS INCREASING FRIEND GROUP STEWARDSHIP GRANTS

Many FWSP Board Members and Friend Group leaders have been engaged in this legislative season. Governor Tony Evers released his budget in April while the powerful Joint Finance Committee (JFC) hopes to complete their budget later this month. One of FWSP’s legislative priorities is increasing the Stewardship Friends Groups Grants. The “Friends” message is coming across loud and clear as both Governor Evers and the JFC are recommending huge increases. Governor Evers recommended the grant program is expanded from $250k to $1M, while the JFC raises it to $500K. This is wonderful news for the many Friends Groups who rely on these monies for projects. The state budget still has to go through a reconciliation process and will be sent to Governor Evers later this summer. Friends to 

Friends will keep you posted on this and other legislative priorities. Until the budget is done, it’s never too late to contact your legislator. Visit FWSP.org and click on legislative priorities for more information.

A special thanks to everyone who contacted their legislator including FWSP Board Members Jerry Leiterman and Randy Paske, Friends of Hartman Creek Alice Williams, Friends of Bigfoot Beach Chris and John Ecklund, Friends of Peninsula Chris Holicek and Steve Strucely, and Friends of the Hank Aaron Trail Dan Adams.

Michael McFadzen 

2021-22 Legislative Priorities

Friends of Wisconsin State Parks (FWSP) is a 501c3 organization that represents Friends Groups and WI residents that use state lands. There are approximately 87 Friends Groups that support various state park, trails, recreation areas, and forest properties. These local Friends Groups provide thousands of volunteer hours and have delivered over $100M dollars to help support state lands infrastructure and programs.

There has been a gradual deterioration of infrastructure and operations since general-purpose revenue was cut in 2016. The State is underfunding state lands. State Park's maintenance backlog and necessary infrastructure improvements are estimated to be close to $1B. Wisconsin is one of the only state park programs in the country attempting to run park operations on a fee-based system. Fees are increasing and not all people can afford it. The State should be obligated to maintain and invest in state lands for current and future generations.

Parks are one of the best ideas our forefathers had. Putting away some of the state’s finest areas for everyone to enjoy is imperative. Parks are not simply a commodity that can be managed through funds raised by fees and then cut to balance budgets. That approach ignores planning and stewardship of this important resource.

The impact of state parks on local economies and tourism is enormous. Local businesses rely on state park visitors to sustain their businesses.

Comparing Wisconsin to other Park systems

Using diversified revenue streams, Minnesota funds its system at $70M annually. Approximately $24M comes from the State’s General Fund, $19M from user fees, $6M from lottery revenue, and $18M from Legacy Park and Trails Fund. In 2008, Minnesota passed a constitutional amendment that dedicates a portion of sales tax for outdoor recreation. Parks have received over $350M in Legacy funding thus far.

Michigan’s state parks also have several revenue streams. These include a $500M endowment fund, oil and gas revenues, user fees, general fund, and recreation passport. Michigan annual funding is estimated at over $60M annually.

In contrast, Wisconsin has no legacy fund, endowment fund, or lottery revenue. Over the last ten years, park operation costs are reported in the $17-19M range which represents fees collected from visitors (Infrastructure improvements often use Stewardship funding) Up until 1995, Wisconsin parks were funded equally from tax-payer GPR (general purpose revenue) and fees. Since then, tax-payer support has been slowly whittled away.

Legislative Priorities

• Increase spending authority for Parks. The legislature controls how much revenue parks can spend from the Segregated Parks Fund. The legislature required parks to be operated as a business. Parks have increasing revenue due to collect fees but can’t invest it back due to legislative control. It would be valuable for Parks to have this flexibility. This would allow Parks to hire more naturalists and educators to engage visitors and drive additional revenue. The Joint Finance Committee allowed some funding through the Parks Segregated Fund in the last budget.
• FWSP recommends increasing electrical campsites from 35% to 50% to meet public demand. Current statutes limit how many campsites have electrical access. After the initial capital outlay, this generates additional revenue due to increased demand for this type of camping experience.
• FWSP supports the reauthorization of stewardship above current levels and the segregated component that funds Friends Groups projects. Governor Evers proposed increasing this component from $250,000 to $1M annually. These are matched 50% by Friends Group monies which doubles investment in state properties. Unlike most snowmobile and ATV aid programs which are not user matched.
• FWSP supports 4th Grade State Parks Admission. Governor’s Budget includes a gratis annual state parks admission sticker for families of 4th graders. This component has minimal DNR cost and it engages future generations to natural resources.

Long-Term Legislative Priorities Provide Solutions to Park Funding

• Work with DNR and the legislature to develop sponsorship opportunities. This would allow DNR to identify donors by signage or other means for projects such as pavilions, visitor centers, trail and other infrastructure projects. The UW System and Tourism already do this. It would be helpful to allow Parks to solicit donations similar to other agencies. Current capital deferred projects are estimated to be close to $1B. Currently, Friends Groups are fundraising over $60M for projects. This would be supportive to Friends Groups at Willow River, Lakeshore, Devils Lake, and other state parks which are involved in large capital projects.
• Explore additional and sustainable funding sources for State Parks. These include tax initiatives and gaming proceeds for funding capital development projects and operational costs. Endowments and other types of legacy funding are common in many other state park systems.

Strategic State Trail System Priority

• The DNR should maintain responsibility for the planning of co-managed state trials. The current agreements allow planning to be the responsibility of county partners which have caused trail use to “flip” based on local situations. This is untenable for Friends Groups who have made a long-term commitment to these state properties and for the long-term stability of the state trail system.

FWSP 2021 LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES

The legislative season for FWSP has started, coinciding with the 2022-21 State Budget. Budget hearings were held virtually in late 2020/early 2021 by the Executive branch. The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) is holding in-person hearings across the state. Policy Committee submitted FWSP legislative priorities to the JFC. The proposed budget includes a big raise for Stewardship but is unlikely to pass the legislature in the current form. There is an increase in Friends Group Grants from $250K to $1M in the proposed budget. 

The Policy Committee will focus on educating members of the Joint Finance Committee and other key legislators on state land needs. 

The Policy Committee will release a position paper with key priorities/talking points during the budget process. This will be promoted via different methods. We will be asking FWSP Board members and Friends Groups to contact their legislators. 

FWSP 2021-22 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES-SHORT TERM 

• Increase or eliminate spending authority for Parks. The legislature controls how much revenue parks can spend from the Segregated Parks Fund. Most states don’t have this restriction. Parks have increasing revenue but can’t spend it due to legislative control. It would be valuable for Parks to have this flexibility. This may allow Parks to hire more naturalists and educators to enhance visitor experiences. 
• FWSP recommends increasing electrical campsites from 35% to 50% to meet public demand. Current statutes limit how many campsites have electrical access. No park can have more than half of its sites electrical and no more than 35% of the entire state park campsite inventory can be electrified. 
• FWSP supports re-authorization of the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program at or above current levels including Friends Group Grant Increase to $1M annually 
• Support 4th Grade State Parks Admission. Governor’s Budget includes a gratis annual state parks admission sticker for families of 4th graders. 

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES-LONG TERM 

• Work with DNR and the legislature to develop sponsorship opportunities. This would allow DNR to identify donors by signage or other means for projects such as pavilions, visitor centers, trail and other infrastructure projects. Current capital deferred projects are estimated to be close to $1B. This item is much larger than Parks and would likely include all of the DNR. The UW system and Tourism already do this. It would be helpful to allow Parks to solicit donations similar to other agencies. Currently, Friends Groups are fundraising over $60M for projects. It would be supportive to network with Willow River, Lakeshore, and Devils Lake Friends Groups who are planning large capital projects
• The DNR should maintain responsibility for planning of department owned linear trails. The current agreements allow planning to be the responsibility of the local cooperator which has caused trail use to “flip” based on local situations. This is an untenable situation for local Friends Groups who have made a long term commitment to these state properties and for the long term stability of state trail system.
• Explore additional and sustainable funding sources for State Parks. These include tax initiatives and gaming proceeds for funding of capital development projects and operations. Endowments and other types of legacy funding are common in other state park systems.

If Stewardship is not passed, it might be necessary to close specific properties due to water, septic, and other infrastructure needs.